Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #15 in Wirral public Top 41% UK

St John Plessington Catholic College

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

personMr Peadar McLoughlin

corporate_fareHOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onWirral, CH63 7LF

language Visit Website phone 1516455049

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

1,615

trending_up

Attainment 8

37.2

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GCSE Rank

#16 in Wirral

#2,865 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St John Plessington Catholic College is a Academy converter secondary school in Wirral, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

St John Plessington Catholic College is an academy converter in Wirral, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,544 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.2, placing the school #16 in Wirral and #2,865 of 3,216 nationally. 28.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 8.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 14 A-level subjects. 26.7% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 8.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.2 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. There are 3 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.6 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

37.2

Grade 5+ E&M

28.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)8.6%

Entering EBacc26.60%

EBacc APS3.11

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66.50%

EBacc APS3.37

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.57

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS3.32

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS3.73

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc82%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.43

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc67%

EBacc APS3.82

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc69%

EBacc APS4.01

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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

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.2

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*2.0%

Achieving A*–A8.0%

Achieving A*–B26.7%

VA Banding Above average

Retention rate78.6%

A-level subjects offered14

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.1

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate90.00%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate96.30%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate92.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 November 2022

Inspection Report

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30 April 2013

Inspection Report

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10 December 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-11-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-04-30

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-11-12

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

4.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.0%(46 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,544 pupils. During this period, there were 76 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.9%, which is below 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)	1,544	76	4.9%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,550	127	8.2%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,565	99	6.3%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,574	119	7.6%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,579	136	8.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,602	97	6.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,615	129	8.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,618	132	8.2%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,608	47	2.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,623	55	3.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,620	80	4.9%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,603	72	4.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,606	7	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,607	78	4.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,570	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,570	79	5.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,583	104	6.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,541	66	4.3%	3.1%	3
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,559	107	6.9%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,575	97	6.2%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,530	56	3.7%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,545	81	5.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,557	45	2.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,501	74	4.9%	3.0%	3
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,520	74	4.9%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,533	96	6.3%	3.1%	2

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

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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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 109 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 50 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 39 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 10 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

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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.

63.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

60.0%Positive

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

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree13%

agree33%

disagree26%

strongly disagree24%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree11%

agree40%

disagree34%

strongly disagree11%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree19%

agree23%

disagree20%

strongly disagree24%

don't know2%

not applicable12%

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

yes27%

no73%

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

strongly agree16%

agree18%

disagree30%

strongly disagree34%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree25%

agree35%

disagree16%

strongly disagree12%

don't know13%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree21%

agree34%

disagree26%

strongly disagree9%

don't know10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree18%

agree40%

disagree24%

strongly disagree16%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree27%

agree60%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree28%

agree52%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree19%

agree30%

disagree22%

strongly disagree15%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes49%

no51%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (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 Wirral

West Kirby Grammar School

Wirral Grammar School for Girls

Calday Grange Grammar School

Upton Hall School FCJ

Wirral Grammar School for Boys

St Anselm's College