The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco is on a steady improvement journey, having undergone significant leadership and staffing changes since its opening in January 2023. The school has made notable progress in inclusion and behavior management, with leaders striving to raise aspirations among all pupils, especially those who are disadvantaged. Despite these improvements, challenges remain in academic achievement where national examination results are below the expected standard, particularly for disadvantaged students, reflecting historical weaknesses in curriculum and teaching. The school has met safeguarding standards, creating a positive environment where pupils feel safe and supported.

Strengths

• Leaders have strengthened processes for identifying pupils' needs.
• Staff receive appropriate training to help reduce barriers to learning.
• Pupils receive effective support in early reading, becoming confident readers.
• The school has a proactive approach to improving attendance.
• Leaders maintain close oversight of alternative provision.
• There are high expectations for behavior and respect among pupils.
• The school offers a range of extra-curricular opportunities that engage some pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' achievement in national examinations remains low, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
• Inconsistencies in curriculum delivery affect pupils' learning.
• Gaps in pupils' knowledge in spelling and mathematics limit achievement.
• Older pupils struggle with attendance, contributing to learning gaps.
• Some elements of personal, social, health and economic education are not taught effectively.

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 Salesian Academy of St John Bosco attended 87.6% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 35.5% 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, 9.6% of pupils at The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 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 Salesian Academy of St John Bosco had 22.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.6% 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, 23.1% of pupils at The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco 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 Salesian Academy of St John Bosco received £9,353 and spent £9,356 for each of its 535 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £239,000 (£446 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust, income was £9,373 and spending £9,272 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 Bootle · Sefton local authority: places and applications

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco is part of Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Our Lady of Walsingham Primary School Bootle
• Sacred Heart Catholic Academy Liverpool
• St Edmund's and St Thomas' Catholic Primary School Liverpool
• St Mary's Catholic Primary School Liverpool
• Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy Prescot
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Southport

What is The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco last inspected by Ofsted?

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco have?

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco has 575 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco cover?

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 34.2, and 17% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco?

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco is at Netherton Way, Bootle, Merseyside, L30 2NA.