The Prescot School

The Prescot School is currently facing significant challenges, with an overall performance classified as requiring improvement. Although recent efforts have increased expectations and ambition for student learning, many pupils still experience gaps in their education, attributable to the weaknesses of previous curriculums. Behavior among students is generally acceptable in lessons, but outside the classroom, there are notable inconsistencies that affect the overall student experience. Attendance rates are also a concern, as many students are frequently late or absent, which hampers their ability to benefit from the educational improvements being implemented. Despite these challenges, there are strengths in the school’s initiatives, such as a broad and ambitious curriculum that is adapted for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). There is a growing emphasis on reading, and pupils who struggle are receiving support to improve their literacy skills. However, the school must ensure that all staff consistently apply behavior policies and that strategies for increasing attendance are effective, so every student can fully engage with the positive changes underway.

Strengths

• The school has increased ambition for pupil learning.
• Most pupils behave well during lessons and focus on their learning.
• There are a variety of extra-curricular activities available.
• Staff provide support that helps disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• Reading is prioritized, with targeted support for pupils with reading difficulties.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should due to previous curriculum weaknesses.
• Behavior outside the classroom is variable and occasionally uncomfortable for other pupils.
• A considerable proportion of pupils have low attendance and are often late.
• Teachers do not consistently check for misconceptions in pupils' learning.
• Some pupils, including those with SEND, do not participate in extra-curricular activities.

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 The Prescot School attended 88.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 12.2% of pupils at The Prescot School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 9 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 The Prescot School had 15.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 20.0% of pupils at The Prescot School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Prescot School received £10,640 and spent £10,561 for each of its 922 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,379,000 (£1,495 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of The Heath Family (North West), income was £8,879 and spending £8,893 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

The Prescot School is part of The Heath Family (North West), which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• Halsnead Primary School Prescot
• Litherland Moss Primary School Liverpool
• Litherland High School Liverpool
• The Heath School Runcorn
• Bridgewater Park Primary School Runcorn
• Palace Fields Primary Academy Runcorn
• Daresbury Primary School Warrington

What is The Prescot School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Prescot School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was The Prescot School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Prescot School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does The Prescot School have?

The Prescot School has 915 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Prescot School cover?

The Prescot School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Prescot School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 35.1, and 18% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Prescot School?

The Prescot School is at Knowsley Park Lane, Prescot, Liverpool, Merseyside, L34 3NB.