Everton Alternative Provision (AP) Free School and Everton Football College are celebrating after receiving an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating.

The school was given the top rating in every area of Ofsted’s report, which covered the quality of education offered, the behaviour, attitudes and personal development of students, and its leadership and management.

Inspectors noted how the transformation in pupils’ behaviour and engagement over their time at the Free School was "remarkable", while the delivery of curriculum at the Football College was described as "exceptional".

In both cases, the report recognised how the power of sport had been used to focus learning, engage students and boost academic achievement and attendance.

Recent Ofsted figures show that only 16 per cent of schools in the UK have an ‘outstanding’ rating.

Everton AP Free School – established in 2012, a stone’s throw from Everton’s Goodison Park – caters for young people aged 13-16, offering an alternative education pathway for those where traditional methods in mainstream schools have failed.

Last year, governors took the strategic decision to work with the Department for Education to create a Multi-Academy Trust, with Everton AP Free School and Football College as the lead school.

‘The People’s Learning Trust’ has since been established as a not-for-profit company and is headed up by former Free School Principal, Steven Baker OBE.

The move has seen Everton become the only Premier League football club with its own Multi-Academy Trust and will ensure a consistency of approach and values across a family of schools that will benefit more children and young people across the region in future.

Claire Lamontagne, Principal at Everton AP Free School, said: “To be rated ‘outstanding’ across the board is an incredibly proud moment for our school and a reflection of the remarkable work done by our teachers, support staff and governors to ensure the best educational outcomes for our students.
 

“The biggest compliment in the report was that many parents and carers of pupils said attending Everton AP Free School had had a life-changing impact on their child and families.

“It is a privilege to witness the evolutionary journey that youngsters go on from the day they walk through our doors and to see, first-hand, how their education with us has better prepared them for whatever they choose to do next. In many cases, their time here has re-connected them with the value of education and given them goals and aspirations that were previously absent.

“As we embark on an exciting new chapter as part of The People’s Learning Trust, we will continue to develop the school to ensure students become successful learners, confident and happy individuals and responsible citizens.

“The publication of Ofsted’s report shines a bright light on our work and it is a momentous day for Everton Alternative Provision Free School.” 

Opened in 2018, Everton Football College has sites in Liverpool and Ellesmere Port and offers traditional education pathways and enrichment opportunities to all secondary school leavers wishing to continue their studies, helping them prepare for future work, university or scholarships.

In October 2023, the Football College saw its Under-17s boys’ team and an open age girls’ team crowned champions at the World Schools Football Cup held in Barcelona (pictured above).

Students have also benefitted from educational excursions to Dallas - where they participated in the prestigious Dallas Cup - New York and Chile.

Ofsted praised the educational benefit of the College’s sports-inspired approach, noting that students “mirror the football club’s motto, ‘Nil Satis Nisi Optimum’ [nothing but the best is good enough]… demonstrating this clearly in their excellent academic, personal and social development.”

Maxine Spooner, Everton Football College Head, said: “As a college, we are truly proud to have received this recognition from Ofsted, which is a fantastic reflection on our staff but also our wonderful and hard-working students.

“This report, along with our outstanding academic results in recent years, illustrates not only the quality of education we offer, but how students who choose us go on to be inspired by the opportunity to learn through their love of sport and football.

"I would like to place on record my thanks to everyone who has contributed to us receiving this ‘outstanding’ rating and for helping the college grow into what is now recognised as one of the very best sixth form providers in the country.”

Youngsters interested in finding out more about Everton Football College, should visit evertonfc.ac.uk

More information about the Free School can be found at evertonfreeschool.com

The Football College holds regular open evenings for prospective students throughout the year and you can also get the latest information by following them on X (@EvertonCollege) and Instagram (@EvertonFootballCollege).