Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #3 in St. Helens public Top 29% UK

Hope Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Marie Adams

corporate_fareTHE LIVERPOOL JOINT CATHOLIC AND CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onNewton-le-Willows, WA12 0AQ

language Visit Website phone 1744671930

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,351

trending_up

Attainment 8

43.8

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GCSE Rank

#3 in St. Helens

#1,965 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Hope Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Newton-le-Willows, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Hope Academy is an academy sponsor led in Newton-le-Willows, St. Helens, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of THE LIVERPOOL JOINT CATHOLIC AND CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,288 pupils on roll, of whom 29% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.8, placing the school #3 in St. Helens and #1,965 of 3,216 nationally. 32.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 18.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 15.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

43.8

Grade 5+ E&M

32.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)18.7%

Entering EBacc32.50%

EBacc APS3.71

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59.50%

EBacc APS3.68

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc56%

EBacc APS3.49

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS3.72

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc52%

EBacc APS3.55

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS3.68

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 November 2024

Inspection Report

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28 September 2021

Inspection Report

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24 November 2015

Inspection Report

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16 June 2015

Inspection Report

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03 March 2015

Inspection Report

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30 September 2014

Inspection Report

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03 June 2014

Inspection Report

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27 February 2014

Inspection Report

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13 November 2013

Inspection Report

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18 June 2013

Inspection Report

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25 April 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-11-12

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2021-09-28

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2015-11-24

Schools into Special Measures Visit 5 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-02-27

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

14.0%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.3%(81 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,288 pupils. During this period, there were 180 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 14.0%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,288	180	14.0%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,295	220	17.0%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,342	255	19.0%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,349	191	14.2%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,361	202	14.8%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,349	119	8.8%	6.6%	3
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,351	118	8.7%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,352	72	5.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,324	34	2.6%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,333	49	3.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,341	45	3.4%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,281	26	2.0%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,284	1	0.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,294	13	1.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,217	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,217	26	2.1%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,232	15	1.2%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,122	11	1.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,134	40	3.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,144	22	1.9%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,069	45	4.2%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,085	52	4.8%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,090	42	3.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,049	81	7.7%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,050	52	5.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,060	33	3.1%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 108 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 61 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 55 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 29 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Hearing Impairment 10 pupils

Visual Impairment 6 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

68.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

73.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree14%

agree43%

disagree19%

strongly disagree20%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree27%

agree50%

disagree9%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree18%

agree20%

disagree19%

strongly disagree21%

don't know3%

not applicable18%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes33%

no67%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree15%

agree17%

disagree26%

strongly disagree34%

dont know8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree29%

agree36%

disagree15%

strongly disagree10%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree19%

agree45%

disagree18%

strongly disagree10%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree15%

agree43%

disagree22%

strongly disagree17%

don't know4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree55%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree41%

agree48%

disagree3%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree20%

agree30%

disagree20%

strongly disagree15%

don't know15%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes59%

no41%

Top Secondary Schools in St. Helens

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Rainford High School

Good

location_on St Helens, WA11 8NY

emoji_events #1 in LA

Rainhill High School

Good

location_on Prescot, L35 6NY

emoji_events #2 in LA

The Sutton Academy

Good

location_on St Helens, WA9 5AU

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy

Requires improvement

location_on St. Helens, WA11 9BB

emoji_events #5 in LA

Outwood Academy Haydock

Inadequate

location_on St. Helens, WA11 0JG

emoji_events #6 in LA

Cowley International College

Good

location_on St Helens, WA10 6PN

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in St. Helens arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England/Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in St. Helens

Rainford High School

Rainhill High School

The Sutton Academy

St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy

Outwood Academy Haydock

Cowley International College