Secondary school

Penwortham Girls' High School

  • Community School
  • ages 11–16
  • Girls
  • Lancashire
  • PR1 0SR
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Outstanding · inspected May 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 642 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 20%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 15%15%2016/17: top 11%2017/18: top 15%2018/19: top 13%2021/22: top 12%2022/23: top 8%8% · 2022/232023/24: top 11%2024/25: top 20%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 852.9 · North West 44.49/10 Top 20%−7.6 pts
Grade 5+ English and maths54.7% · North West 40%8/10 Above−14 pts
EBacc point score5.05 · North West 3.8210/10 Top 10%
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.57 · North West −0.1610/10 Top 10%
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 56.6 · 121 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 55.7 · 118 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 54.4 · 121 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 55.9 · 159 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 59.5 · 154 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 59.5 · 154 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 57.5 · 159 pupils · North West 442024/25: 52.9 · 159 pupils · North West 44.459.552.9No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 67% · 118 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 59% · 121 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 69% · 159 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 75% · 154 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 69% · 154 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 71.7% · 159 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 54.7% · 159 pupils · North West 40%75%54.7%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in86.2%
137 of 159 who put it first2014 · 86.9%2026 · 86.2%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st159137
2nd18820
3rd1314

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2024

  1. 2007Good
  2. 2012Good
  3. 2014Outstanding
  4. 2024Outstanding

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026799
Free school meals (past 6 years)17.1%
First language not English11.1%
SEN support7.8%
EHC plan3.0%
Absence (sessions missed)5.9%
Persistently absent pupils15.8%

Girls 100%Boys 0%

99.9% full · 800 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 165 responses (20.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school78.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school86.7% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved85.5% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 67.9% not applicable43.4% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year80.6% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 24.2% not applicable73.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed57.6% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child90.3% agree
  • My child does well at this school85.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing86.7% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.2% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95.2% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development78.8% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent84.2% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.2
Pupils per adult11.7
  • Classroom teachers 37.5
  • Leadership 9
  • Teaching assistants 12.8
  • Other support 20.2

Teachers 46.5 FTE · Whole workforce 79.4 · 89 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,038
Spend per pupil£7,956
Staff spend per pupil£5,879
Reserve per pupil£801
  • +£639,712revenue reserve
  • +£65,491in-year balance

Grants £7,551 · self-generated £487 · premises £330 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

159 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained96.2%
  • Education93.1%
  • Apprenticeship1.9%
  • Employment1.3%
  • Not sustained3.8%
  • Unknown0%