SchoolScoresBacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of STAR ACADEMIES
Glen Road, Rossendale, BB4 7BJ
01706 234500 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 14 June 2022. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
Category of concern: Special measures.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Inadequate |
| Personal development | Inadequate |
| Leadership and management | Inadequate |
| Sixth form | Inadequate |
| Safeguarding | Not effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
175 pupils in this year group.
97% — 53 points above the Lancashire average, and 51 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 97% | 44% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 73.3 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 7.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
94 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 39% | 30% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 66% | 56% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 39.5 | 36.5 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
17 subjects, 289 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 61 | 20% | 52% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 45 | 16% | 44% | 30% |
| Biology | 38 | 18% | 39% | 27% |
| Psychology | 25 | 12% | 32% | 19% |
| Physics | 23 | 17% | 35% | 31% |
| Law | 15 | 7% | 20% | 17% |
| Economics | 13 | 8% | 23% | 26% |
| Sociology | 12 | 17% | 25% | 20% |
| English Literature | 9 | 33% | 44% | 23% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 8 | 0% | 13% | 24% |
| Geography | 8 | 25% | 63% | 23% |
| History | 8 | 0% | 13% | 23% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 7 | 14% | 57% | 59% |
| Spanish | 7 | 0% | 14% | 34% |
| English Language | 6 | 0% | 50% | 13% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: German, Business Studies:Single.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lancashire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 181 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 219 |
| Of those, offered a place | 172 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 385 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.2
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 26.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.8% | 2.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 12.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.6% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1% | 22.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Lower than 97% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.8 | 21.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Lower than 97% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.8% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.53% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 71% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.8 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Rossendale. Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3% | 12.5%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- The Valley Leadership Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Alder Grange School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- All Saints' Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 19% grade 5+ English and maths
- Haslingden High School and Sixth Form 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School's Ofsted rating?
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 June 2022.
How did Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 97% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 51 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 219 families put Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School as their first choice for 181 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 172 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 150261.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.