The Beacon Church of England Primary School

The Beacon Church of England Primary School is performing at an exceptionally high level across all judged areas. Inspectors found an ambitious, nurturing school where pupils achieve extremely well, behave exceptionally well, and benefit from a highly motivating curriculum. The school has high expectations for every pupil, strong teaching, effective reading and phonics provision, and a highly ambitious early years curriculum. Pupils’ personal development is exemplary, with extensive opportunities, strong pastoral care, and a clear focus on health, safety, diversity and responsibility. The school is deeply inclusive and serves its diverse community with exceptional pastoral support that extends beyond the typical role of a school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are identified quickly and supported skilfully, and staff feel well supported with manageable workload and high-quality professional development. Attendance is typically very low for absence, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school’s first routine section 5 inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first inspection under section 5 since becoming an academy converter. Its predecessor school had previously been judged outstanding. The school is part of the Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust and has a new headteacher and an executive headteacher. No areas for improvement were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in an ambitious and nurturing environment
• Pupils behave exceptionally well in lessons and around the school
• Pupils achieve extremely well across a highly motivating curriculum
• Subject knowledge is identified and sequenced intricately
• Teachers check understanding and intervene quickly when misconceptions arise
• Pupils with SEND are identified swiftly and supported skilfully
• Reading and phonics teaching is consistent and effective
• The early years curriculum is highly ambitious and provides strong foundations
• Personal development opportunities through the Beacon Way are exemplary
• Exceptional pastoral support extends beyond the typical role of a school
• Attendance is strong, with absence typically very low
• Staff feel well supported and benefit from high-quality professional development
• Leaders and trust oversight maintain high expectations effectively
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

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 Beacon Church of England Primary School attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.4% 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, 0.6% of pupils at The Beacon Church of England Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 Beacon Church of England Primary School had 16.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.3% 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, 21.3% of pupils at The Beacon Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 2024–25 The Beacon Church of England Primary School received £7,466 and spent £7,191 for each of its 469 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £232,000 (£494 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, income was £7,382 and spending £7,357 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 · Liverpool local authority: places and applications

The Beacon Church of England Primary School is part of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• Huyton With Roby Church of England Primary School Liverpool
• Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School, Woolton Liverpool
• St Andrews Church of England Primary School, Maghull Liverpool
• St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate Liverpool
• Halewood Church of England Primary Academy Liverpool
• Cronton Church of England Primary Academy Widnes
• Rainford CofE Primary School St Helens
• Parish Church of England Primary School, St Helens St Helens
• Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School Skelmersdale
• Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School Southport

What is The Beacon Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Beacon Church of England Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was The Beacon Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Beacon Church of England Primary School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does The Beacon Church of England Primary School have?

The Beacon Church of England Primary School has 474 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Beacon Church of England Primary School cover?

The Beacon Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are The Beacon Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 58% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Beacon Church of England Primary School?

The Beacon Church of England Primary School is at Heyworth Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L5 3QG.