Blue Coat Liverpool

JustWondering0907 · 2025-10-18T06:20:04+00:00

Blue coat school, Liverpool. My child sat the test in June this year while he was in year five. He progressed to phase two in September and we have had the result. He has been placed in Group B. Group A 1-180 are guaranteed a place. group B 181-220 are able to apply but not guaranteed. group C 221-406 can not apply. My question being if anyone has experienced their child being in Group B and what their ranking was if they got in? Thanks.

Doseofreality · 18/10/2025 15:29

I would look elsewhere, the current Head is not someone I would want running my child’s school. Cares more about his ego than the pupils.

duckydoo234 · 18/10/2025 22:39

I have a child already in the school, and thankfully we were Group A this year for child #2 (as for #1) but I have been tracking everything for several years and get the impression that typically 20-30 of Group B get an offer. They wouldn't make Group B 40 children if there wasn't a reasonable chance most of them could get a place. I believe there have been years where a couple of Group Cs get in too - Group Cs can apply (though the wording of what the school sends you suggests otherwise) it's just that it's highly unlikely they would get a place.

PurpleChrayn · 19/10/2025 09:14

I’ve heard only bad things about Bluecoat. My friend’s daughter went for sixth form from King David and ended up going back to KD because the pastoral care and general ethos at BC was awful. I pass every day during the school run and have never once seen a smiling face on any pupil.

Original poster

JustWondering0907 · 19/10/2025 13:55

duckydoo234 · 18/10/2025 22:39

I have a child already in the school, and thankfully we were Group A this year for child #2 (as for #1) but I have been tracking everything for several years and get the impression that typically 20-30 of Group B get an offer. They wouldn't make Group B 40 children if there wasn't a reasonable chance most of them could get a place. I believe there have been years where a couple of Group Cs get in too - Group Cs can apply (though the wording of what the school sends you suggests otherwise) it's just that it's highly unlikely they would get a place.

Thank you. Do you think there is anyway to find out how many of group B have been allocated a place over the past several years?
The testing this year was two tests, it just makes me wonder why parents would let their children sit two tests and then not accept the place? Are there really several dozen parents who decline a place, just thinking of reasons for so many? Thanks!

OP posts:

Original poster

JustWondering0907 · 19/10/2025 13:59

duckydoo234 · 18/10/2025 22:39

I have a child already in the school, and thankfully we were Group A this year for child #2 (as for #1) but I have been tracking everything for several years and get the impression that typically 20-30 of Group B get an offer. They wouldn't make Group B 40 children if there wasn't a reasonable chance most of them could get a place. I believe there have been years where a couple of Group Cs get in too - Group Cs can apply (though the wording of what the school sends you suggests otherwise) it's just that it's highly unlikely they would get a place.

Where would you find out that 20-30 of group B get in each year? Thank you 😊

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CheerfulMuddler · 19/10/2025 14:33

About a third of DS's class took the test and anecdotally a surprising number had it as back up - their real first preference was Calderstones, Liverpool College or Belvedere but wanted other options in case their child didn't get in. The lottery system used by popular schools means many parents want to have good back up options.

Blue Coat does have a mixed reputation locally, but all the children I know who go there like it a lot. And if you look at the parentview scores on the Ofsted website, most parents say they would recommend it to another parent, which is definitely not true of many Liverpool secondaries.

duckydoo234 · 19/10/2025 16:00

Just tracking forums, talking to people etc. for several years, it seems that Group Bs have a good chance, though no guarantee. The last few years they have given Group B rankings, so you know if you're #1 on the list or #40. Other than that, no scores of any kind were given this year, whereas in previous years each candidate has got their score.

Many kids will sit the test but it not be their preference, i.e. they'd prefer a Wirral Grammar school, Trafford schools, a religious school, decide to go private. In the queue, we met a family whose son was doing practically every test in the NW and their #1 choice was Altringham Boys. So it's not the case that they prepare for years for Blue Coat and then turn it down, it's that Blue Coat is just one school of many, and probably for reasons of distance or religion or wanting a single sex school, they decide for another option.

I don't want to start a fight, but I'd guess that anyone coming on here badmouthing the school has put their children in for the test and weren't successful.

Original poster

JustWondering0907 · 19/10/2025 16:12

duckydoo234 · 19/10/2025 16:00

Just tracking forums, talking to people etc. for several years, it seems that Group Bs have a good chance, though no guarantee. The last few years they have given Group B rankings, so you know if you're #1 on the list or #40. Other than that, no scores of any kind were given this year, whereas in previous years each candidate has got their score.

Many kids will sit the test but it not be their preference, i.e. they'd prefer a Wirral Grammar school, Trafford schools, a religious school, decide to go private. In the queue, we met a family whose son was doing practically every test in the NW and their #1 choice was Altringham Boys. So it's not the case that they prepare for years for Blue Coat and then turn it down, it's that Blue Coat is just one school of many, and probably for reasons of distance or religion or wanting a single sex school, they decide for another option.

I don't want to start a fight, but I'd guess that anyone coming on here badmouthing the school has put their children in for the test and weren't successful.

Thank you so much. My child got his rank number on Friday. He is group B. Will find out in March I guess. I wonder if school would tell me how many got in from B over the last few years? Thank you ☺️

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duckydoo234 · 19/10/2025 16:29

I doubt the school will tell you anything, because it's mathematically possible that everyone in Group A takes their place, and then they could have mislead you by saying X about Group B. It might differ a lot year on year. My sense would be that if you're #1-10 you can pretty much be sure you'll get a place (but obviously you won't rest until you see it), and #30-40 you're very unlikely. It might be that a few people get places after 1st March too, since people will be allocated the school and then, for whatever reason (change in circumstances, journey deemed too long ...), decide to go private.

Good luck!