Secondary school

Penwortham Priory Academy

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Lancashire
  • PR1 0JE
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2020

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,086 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 64%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 62%62%2016/17: top 50%2017/18: top 64%2018/19: top 53%2021/22: top 43%43% · 2021/222022/23: top 53%2023/24: top 76%2024/25: top 64%No exams

Against North West

Attainment 843.2 · North West 44.45/10 Middle−22.5 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths38.1% · North West 40%5/10 Middle−23.5 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.73 · North West 3.825/10 Middle−26.1 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.36 · North West −0.164/10 Below−20.7 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 48.5 · 120 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 46 · 122 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 43.4 · 104 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 45.6 · 120 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 49.7 · 149 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 45.3 · 172 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 40.5 · 152 pupils · North West 442024/25: 43.2 · 155 pupils · North West 44.449.740.5No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 35% · 122 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 38% · 104 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 42% · 120 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 53% · 149 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 43% · 172 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 35.5% · 152 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 38.1% · 155 pupils · North West 40%53%35%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in84.8%
139 of 164 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 84.8%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st164139
2nd19411
3rd1531

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2010–2025

  1. 2010Goodas predecessor
  2. 2013Good
  3. 2015Requires improvement
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2017Requires improvement
  6. 2018Ungraded visit
  7. 2020Good
  8. 2025Ungraded visit

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 2026745
Free school meals (past 6 years)26.1%
First language not English5.4%
SEN support11.7%
EHC plan2.7%
Absence (sessions missed)8.7%
Persistently absent pupils25.0%

Girls 43.1%Boys 56.9%

99.3% full · 750 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 161 responses (21.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school92.5% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school91.9% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved83.2% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 59.6% not applicable70.8% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year78.9% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 26.7% not applicable81.3% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?23.6% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 23.6% who said Yes above79% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child84.5% agree
  • My child does well at this school88.2% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing83.2% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school93.2% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development86.3% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent88.8% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher18.8
Pupils per adult13.2
  • Classroom teachers 35.6
  • Leadership 4
  • Teaching assistants 9.7
  • Other support 28.6

Teachers 39.6 FTE · Whole workforce 77.9 · 90 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£8,503
Spend per pupil£8,311
Staff spend per pupil£5,948
Reserve per pupil£1,206
  • +£901,000revenue reserve
  • +£144,000in-year balance

Grants £8,021 · self-generated £517 · premises £710 per pupil

Single-academy trust: PENWORTHAM PRIORY ACADEMY TRUST

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

152 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained87.5%
  • Education77.6%
  • Apprenticeship5.9%
  • Employment3.9%
  • Not sustained8.6%
  • Unknown3.9%