King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes

  • Secondary
  • Free school
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted: Good

Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 6AQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes is a secondary school in Bootle for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 113 schools in Sefton. It ranks 15th of 17 secondary schools in Sefton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 27 September 2023, report published 8 November 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 September 2023

More and more pupils are joining this school as a result of its increasingly good reputation in the local community. Pupils embrace the school's ASPIRE values and ethos. Many pupils join the school part way through their education. They settle in quickly. They follow school routines and get on well together. They are happy to come to school. Most attend well. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. It has put the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects at the heart of its ambitious curriculum. The achievement of pupils in many subjects, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), has improved considerably. Pupils behave well. They know what is expected of them and respond quickly and politely to teachers' requests. For the most part, lessons are free from interruption. Pupils enjoy many opportunities for personal development. The enrichment programme enables them to develop their talents and interests. For example, they participate eagerly in debating, documentary and baking clubs. They take on positions of responsibility and leadership through becoming members of the Combined Cadet Force and as prefects.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects, teachers do not use assessment information well enough to adapt future teaching to enable them to embed missing knowledge. This means that some pupils struggle to remember what they have learned. The school should ensure that teachers use their knowledge of gaps in learning to design activities that help pupils to know and remember more over time.
  • Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. This means that some do not have access to the full curriculum. The school should ensure that it strengthens its work with pupils and their parents to increase rates of attendance.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

106 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score32.2

32.2, 13.9 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths17%

17%, 28.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths34.9%

34.9%, 29.9 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc67%

67%, 26.5 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score2.94

2.94, 1.15 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

708 pupils on roll, with places for 600

Eligible for free school meals61.6%

61.6%, 35.1 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language16.9%

16.9%, 4.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support19.6%

19.6%, 4.8 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5.5%

5.5%, 0.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco0.9 milesReport card: Needs attention to expected standardAttainment 8: 32.2
Hillside High School1 mileOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 39.8
Litherland High School1 mileOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 41.7
Archbishop Beck Catholic College1 mileReport card: Needs attention to strong standardAttainment 8: 41.5
Alsop High School1 mileReport card: Urgent improvement to needs attentionAttainment 8: 28.2

School details

School type
Free schools
Sector
Free school
Trust
THE GREAT SCHOOLS TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Mrs Andrea St John
Address
Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 6AQ
Local authority
Sefton
URN
138260

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.