SchoolScoresGreat Sankey High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of OMEGA MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Barrow Hall Lane, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3AA
01925 724118 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 September 2017.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 29 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
371 pupils in this year group.
49% — about the same as the Warrington average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 48% | 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. | 50.5 | 48.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 4.3 | 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.
368 pupils in this year group.
97% — 4 points above the Warrington average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 97% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 25% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 26% | 42% | 13% |
| Further education college | 39% | 32% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 97% | 97% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
100 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B- | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 29% | 23% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 50% | 52% | 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. | 35.4 | 32.1 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
26 subjects, 243 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 44 | 7% | 43% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 20 | 10% | 40% | 30% |
| Physics | 19 | 16% | 42% | 31% |
| Psychology | 17 | 0% | 24% | 19% |
| Biology | 13 | 8% | 46% | 27% |
| Economics | 12 | 0% | 8% | 26% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 10 | 10% | 20% | 24% |
| Art and Design | 9 | 11% | 11% | 34% |
| Business Studies:Single | 9 | 0% | 11% | 16% |
| Geography | 9 | 11% | 11% | 23% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 9 | 22% | 67% | 59% |
| Sociology | 9 | 0% | 11% | 20% |
| History | 8 | 0% | 25% | 23% |
| Art and Design (Photography) | 7 | 0% | 0% | 26% |
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 6 | 0% | 0% | 15% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Graphics), English Literature, Law, Music Technology, Religious Studies, Art and Design (Textiles), English Language, French, German, Government and Politics, Music.
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.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
144 students in this year group.
90% — 9 points above the Warrington average, and 11 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 90% | 81% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 10% | 7% |
| Work | 31% | 33% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 90% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
139 students in this year group.
53% — 4 points above the Warrington average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 53% | 49% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 13% | 12% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 55% | 53% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Warrington. 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 offered | 325 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 278 |
| Of those, offered a place | 278 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 583 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 14th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 9% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5% | 23.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 14th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.8% | 4.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.2% | 14.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.9% | 14.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Lower than 70% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.2% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Lower than 75% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2% | 20.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Lower than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.8 | 11.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Lower than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.4% | 4.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.10% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington. Higher than 46% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5% | 10.9%* | 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
- Penketh High School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Gregory's Catholic High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
- Aldridge UTC Warrington 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 14% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Great Sankey High School's Ofsted rating?
Great Sankey High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 September 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 29 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Great Sankey High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Great Sankey High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 278 families put Great Sankey High School as their first choice for 325 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 278 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 139152.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.