The school is aspecialist school formathematics andcomputing, and was the first school in Liverpool to gain specialist school status in that category. The schools most recent inspection byOfsted took place in October 2021, and inspectors concluded that the school "required improvement" across all areas, including quality of education provided, behaviour and attitude of pupils attending the school, as well as leadership and management.[2]
The college had arector from 1842 to 1844. It had two pupils.[4]
A year later, it had a dozen pupils. Father Francis Lythgoe moved the college to St. Anne Street where it stayed until 1845.[4] In 1844 Father Johnson took over from Father Francis Lythgoe and moved his 24 pupils to the newly openedPresbytery on Salisbury Street. Father Collyns took over the college in 1853. With more than 50 pupils therector Father Collyns decided that a new premises was needed. By 1856 the college had its own building built alongside thePresbytery and in 1877 a new college was built on 6 Salisbury Street.[5]
The newest Salisbury Street building was designed byHenry Clutton, aCatholicarchitect. He used the designs of Father Vaughan as the bases of his designs. The new college was completed in the summer of 1877 and cost £30,000.[5]
In 1961 the college was transferred as agrammar school to its present twenty-six-acre site at High Lee,Woolton.From 1984 to 1990 the Lower School site for Years 7, 8 and 9 was located on Queens Drive (Formerly Cardinal Newman RC) inWavertree. Later, the Lower School was re-sited with the Upper School at High Lee. In 1990, the college opted out of local authority control, becoming agrant-maintained school. The college was granted Technology College status from April 1996. In September 1999 it became aFoundation School. In 1992, the college became co-educational in the sixth form and in September 2000 the De La Mennais Sixth Form Centre was opened.
All boys attending the school are expected to wear the agreed school uniform which is determined through the schools School Uniform policy. The current school uniform for boys consists of;[6]
Maroon school blazer (Years 7–11)
Black school blazer (Years 12–13)
Black, normal style school trousers
Plain white school shirt
School pullover with embroidered school badge
School tie
Black school shoes
Boys attending the school are permitted only to wear formal style school shoes, with pumps, trainers, or walking boots being forbidden. Additionally, the wearing of make up by pupils is also forbidden for pupils in Years 7–11.[6]
All boys attending the school, and who are in Years 7–9, are taught atKey Stage 3 with a curriculum designed "to offer students a broad and balanced opportunity to experience a wide range of subjects". Subjects studied between Years 7–9 include English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, Modern Foreign Language (Spanish and French), Humanities (History and Geography), Creative Arts and Design (Music, Art, Design and Technology), Computing, Physical Education, PSHCE, and Literacy and Reading.[7]
For boys in Years 10–11, they are taught atKey Stage 4 and study the core curriculum subjects of English, Maths, Science, Physical Education and Religious Studies. Additionally, boys have the option of choosing other subjects, either atGCSE, Vocational Award or Cambridge National level. Such optional subjects include Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Film Studies, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Music, PE, Physics, Spanish, Sport, Technology and PSHCE.[7]
Pupils in Years 12–13 are taught atKey Stage 5, and pupils are granted a degree of flexibility over their subject choices. Pupils are provided with a choice of 15 A Levels, 3 BTECs, 1 CTEC and 2 Cambridge Technical awards to choose from. Pupils may additional wish to undertake courses provided at St Julies, the schools collaborative partner where pupils have the option to choose an additional 6 A Levels, 1 BTEC and 1 Technical Certificate.[7]
The choir was formed in 1994 and has performed in front ofPope John Paul II. They have toured Europe and the United States, and gained a place in theGuinness Book of Records for singing at everycathedral in England and Wales.[8]
