Secondary school

Our Lady's Catholic College

  • Voluntary Aided School
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Roman Catholic
  • Lancashire
  • LA1 2RX
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Requires improvement · inspected Mar 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,396 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 74%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 72%72%2016/17: top 58%2017/18: top 56%56% · 2017/182018/19: top 79%2021/22: top 96%2022/23: top 86%2023/24: top 87%2024/25: top 74%No exams

A-level results

#150 of 178 North West sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against North West

Attainment 841.3 · North West 44.44/10 Below+26.3 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths34.8% · North West 40%4/10 Below+27.5 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.31 · North West 3.823/10 Below+12.9 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.51 · North West −0.163/10 Below−29.1 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry27.26 · North West 32.92/10 Well below North West−28.5 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 46.8 · 108 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 44.7 · 107 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 44.8 · 66 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 40.5 · 110 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 36.2 · 149 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 38.2 · 179 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 37.7 · 150 pupils · North West 442024/25: 41.3 · 155 pupils · North West 44.446.836.2No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 26% · 107 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 35% · 66 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 26% · 110 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 26% · 149 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 31% · 179 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 28.7% · 150 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 34.8% · 155 pupils · North West 40%35%26%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 27.57 · 60 pupils · North West 28.42016/17: 30.55 · 72 pupils · North West 29.242017/18: 33.56 · 30 pupils · North West 30.22018/19: 35 · 42 pupils · North West 31.62021/22: 34.35 · 36 pupils · North West 35.972022/23: 30 · 32 pupils · North West 31.932023/24: 28.41 · 49 pupils · North West 32.72024/25: 27.26 · 53 pupils · North West 32.93527.26No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in99.2%
131 of 132 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 99.2%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st132131
2nd13024
3rd1966

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2024

  1. 2006Good
  2. 2009Satisfactory
  3. 2012Good
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2021Requires improvement
  6. 2024Requires improvement

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Sixth form provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

1 weak areas

  • Quality of education

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026981
Free school meals (past 6 years)40.6%
First language not English14.0%
SEN support22.4%
EHC plan3.4%
Absence (sessions missed)11.6%
Persistently absent pupils34.9%

Girls 49%Boys 51%

85.5% full · 1,148 places · 128 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 236 responses (23.3% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school75% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school80.9% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved72.9% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 50.4% not applicable46.1% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year74.2% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 14.4% not applicable66.8% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed57.4% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child74.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school76.7% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing80.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school87.3% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school86.9% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development66.5% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent73.7% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher14.0
Pupils per adult9.2
  • Classroom teachers 64
  • Leadership 6
  • Teaching assistants 20.7
  • Other support 34.6

Teachers 70 FTE · Whole workforce 125.3 · 150 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,949
Spend per pupil£8,924
Staff spend per pupil£7,439
Reserve per pupil£75
  • +£74,026revenue reserve
  • +£23,959in-year balance

Grants £8,579 · self-generated £370 · premises £400 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

150 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.7%
  • Education81.3%
  • Apprenticeship7.3%
  • Employment2%
  • Not sustained7.3%
  • Unknown2%

After sixth form (16–18)

58 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained81%
  • Education60.3%
  • Higher education53.4%
  • Apprenticeship3.4%
  • Employment17.2%
  • Not sustained12.1%
  • Unknown6.9%