Freshfield Primary School

Freshfield Primary School has been evaluated as outstanding across all domains, marking a significant achievement given that this is their first inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. The school is noted for providing a welcoming atmosphere where pupils, including those with special educational needs, thrive in a supportive and engaging environment. The curriculum is ambitious and well-structured, promoting high standards of learning and development among students. The exemplary behaviour of pupils and their strong relationships with staff contribute to a conducive learning atmosphere.

Strengths

• Outstanding quality of education across all areas
• Exceptional support for students with special educational needs
• High levels of pupil engagement and enjoyment in learning
• Strong focus on reading, with well-delivered phonics programs
• Excellent extracurricular opportunities for personal development
• Impeccable pupil behaviour and clear routines
• Effective leadership and management with strong governor support

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Freshfield Primary School attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Freshfield Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Freshfield Primary School had 16.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 16.5% of pupils at Freshfield Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 12.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has a SEN unit with 29 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Freshfield Primary School received £10,274 and spent £9,665 for each of its 268 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £352,000 (£1,314 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Liverpool · Sefton local authority: places and applications

What is Freshfield Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Freshfield Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Freshfield Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Freshfield Primary School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Freshfield Primary School have?

Freshfield Primary School has 272 pupils on roll.

What age range does Freshfield Primary School cover?

Freshfield Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Freshfield Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Freshfield Primary School?

Freshfield Primary School is at Watchyard Lane, Formby, Liverpool, Merseyside, L37 3JT.