SchoolScoresBalshaw's CofE High School
Voluntary controlled school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Church of England
Church Road, Leyland, PR25 3AH
01772 421009 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 February 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | 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
188 pupils in this year group.
57% — 14 points above the Lancashire average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 57% | 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. | 52.3 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.8 | 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.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
177 pupils in this year group.
92% — 2 points above the Lancashire average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 92% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 5% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 79% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 92% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 | 179 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 201 |
| Of those, offered a place | 162 (81%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 630 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.1
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 Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6% | 26.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 32% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.3% | 2.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.3% | 12.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Lower than 94% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 5.0% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Lower than 91% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9% | 22.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Lower than 36% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 20.9 | 21.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Lower than 41% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.8% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.21% | 0.53% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Leyland. Higher than 45% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4% | 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
- Wellfield Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2021, before conversion) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Mary's Catholic High School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Academy@Worden 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Parklands High School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Michael's CofE High School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 72% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lostock Hall Academy 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2022 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Balshaw's CofE High School's Ofsted rating?
Balshaw's CofE High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2023.
How did Balshaw's CofE High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Balshaw's CofE High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 201 families put Balshaw's CofE High School as their first choice for 179 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 162 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 119775.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.