SchoolScoresMarsden Heights Community College
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST
Edge End Lane, Nelson, BB9 0PR
01282 683060 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 October 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.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Lancashire comparisons use the 31 of its 83 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 52 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 99% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 78% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 99% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 83% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 100% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 74% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 4th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 85% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 74% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 1%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Lancashire figures pool parents at the Lancashire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
210 pupils in this year group.
33% — 10 points below the Lancashire average, and 12 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 33% | 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. | 40.3 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.4 | 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.
208 pupils in this year group.
90% — about the same as the Lancashire average, and 2 points below 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. | 90% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 88% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 4% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 90% |
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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 205 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 209 |
| Of those, offered a place | 186 (89%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 463 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 29th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.5% | 26.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 30th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 2.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.6% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 100% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 90.2% | 12.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 42nd lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 39th lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 60% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 21.6% | 22.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 37th lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 57% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1 | 21.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 51st lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 38% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.53% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 99% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 24.0 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 94% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 96% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 30.5% | 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
- Edenfield Girls' High School 0.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Pendle Vale College 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Sir John Thursby Community College 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colne Primet Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
- Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
- Olive High Boys 2.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Olive High 2.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2025)
- Lincoln House School 2.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Rosa House School 2.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Marsden Heights Community College's Ofsted rating?
Marsden Heights Community College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 October 2023.
How did Marsden Heights Community College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 33% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Marsden Heights Community College?
92% of the 12 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Marsden Heights Community College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Marsden Heights Community College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 209 families put Marsden Heights Community College as their first choice for 205 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 186 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 146276.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.