Sacred Heart Catholic Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Liverpool, Sefton, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 106 of its 613 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 14 (2.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 613 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Sefton.
17.3% get SEN support
106 of 613 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.3% have an EHC plan
14 of 613 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism36
- Social, emotional and mental health32
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia25
- Speech, language and communication8
- Physical disability5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 613 (places for 1,354)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark O'Hagan
- Part of
- Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 37.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sefton
- School reference (URN)
- 149047
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Sefton council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, October 2024
Inspected in October 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Sixth formRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 5TF
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- SENDSCOPE Independent · Ages 11–15 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- Olsen House School Independent · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Waterloo Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- St Michaels Church of England Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Great Crosby Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.2%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.3 miles
- St Luke's Halsall Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.4%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.5 miles
- Forefield Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 18.2%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.5 miles
Questions about Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
How many pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 106 of the 613 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 14 (2.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (36 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (32 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
Through Sefton council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
You can ask for Sacred Heart Catholic Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Sacred Heart Catholic Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Waterloo Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 5TF, in Sefton.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.