Outwood Academy Haydock

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of OUTWOOD GRANGE ACADEMIES TRUST

Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St. Helens, WA11 0JG

01744 678833 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 1 October 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths30%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 17% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils791Room for 900 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 707 in 2019, 781 in 2021, 805 in 2022, 829 in 2023, 856 in 2024, 819 in 2025, 791 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9123 for 135 places, September 2026
5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 40% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 1 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

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.

What parents say

82 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

St. Helens comparisons use the 3 of its 9 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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.

StatementThis schoolSt. HelensEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
77% 69% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 30% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 74% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 45% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
76% 63% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 17% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
36% 33% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 57 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 37% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65% 51% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 28 parents of children with SEND
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 17% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
43% 36% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 27% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68%said yes 60% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). 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. St. Helens figures pool parents at the St. Helens 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.

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Results

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

147 pupils in this year group.

30% — 6 points below the St. Helens average, and 16 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSt. HelensEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 30% 36% 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. 41.2 41.8 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 3.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 36%This school 2023/24: 32%This school 2024/25: 30% This school England 45% 2022/23 36% 2023/24 32% 2024/25 30%

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.

142 pupils in this year group.

88% — about the same as the St. Helens average, and 4 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 27%44%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSt. HelensEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 88% 88% 92%
School sixth form 8% 18% 34%
Sixth form college 27% 25% 13%
Further education college 44% 37% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

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 St. Helens. 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 offered135
Families who put it first123
Of those, offered a place123 (100%)
Families who listed it at all285

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in St. Helens

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 60 places for moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolSt. HelensEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 75% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
39.4% 30.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.2% 4.9%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.1% 17.8%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 27% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.9% 5.1%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Lower than 40% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.9% 8.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.0% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
6th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
45.3 31.8 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 9.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded8 pupils 0.98% 0.39% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.6 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.2 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens.
Higher than 63% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
15.7% 17.0%* 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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Outwood Academy Haydock's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 1 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Outwood Academy Haydock do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 30% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Outwood Academy Haydock?

68% of the 82 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Outwood Academy Haydock to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Outwood Academy Haydock oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 123 families put Outwood Academy Haydock as their first choice for 135 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 123 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.