Fulwood Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of DUNSTONE EDUCATION TRUST

Black Bull Lane, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9YR

01772 719060 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 6 June 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%England 45% · 2024/25
19th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 21% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils973Room for 1,000 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 776 in 2019, 707 in 2021, 714 in 2022, 759 in 2023, 884 in 2024, 936 in 2025, 973 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7138 for 197 places, September 2026
20th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 16% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 June 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

139 pupils in this year group.

32% — 12 points below the Lancashire average, and 14 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 32% 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. 41.4 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.8 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 23%This school 2023/24: 27%This school 2024/25: 32% This school England 45% 2022/23 23% 2023/24 27% 2024/25 32%

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.

129 pupils in this year group.

81% — 9 points below the Lancashire average, and 11 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 29%43%14%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 81% 90% 92%
School sixth form 2% 12% 34%
Sixth form college 29% 20% 13%
Further education college 43% 48% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 5% 3%
Work 4% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
80%81%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered197
Families who put it first138
Of those, offered a place135 (98%)
Families who listed it at all456

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.4 · 2025: 0.5 · 2026: 0.7

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
44.4% 26.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
21st highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.3% 2.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.7% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 2nd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
47.5% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 74% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.9% 8.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
13th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 70% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
19.4% 22.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.3 21.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.5% 8.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils 0.64% 0.53% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
11th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 47% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.7 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
17th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.4 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
14th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 35% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
11.0% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Fulwood Academy's Ofsted rating?

Fulwood Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 June 2023.

How did Fulwood Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Fulwood Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 138 families put Fulwood Academy as their first choice for 197 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 135 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.