SchoolScoresRayner Stephens High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of STAMFORD PARK TRUST
Yew Tree Lane, Dukinfield, SK16 5BL
0161 338 2374 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 21 April 2026 , published 22 June 2026.
In short: 4 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 87% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 83% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 82% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 98% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 83% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 3%). 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. 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
142 pupils in this year group.
30% — 11 points below the Tameside average, and 16 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 30% | 41% | 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. | 35.6 | 43.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.0 | 3.8 | 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.
108 pupils in this year group.
87% — 2 points below the Tameside average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 16% | 36% | 13% |
| Further education college | 62% | 43% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 87% |
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 Tameside. 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 | 161 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 131 |
| Of those, offered a place | 130 (99%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 320 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.5 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.8
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 | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 49.8% | 38.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.6% | 4.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.5% | 13.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Lower than 5% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 13.1% | 9.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Lower than 7% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 36.5% | 24.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 58.6 | 46.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7% | 13.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.43% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 23% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.4 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 15th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Tameside. Higher than 13% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 12.9%* | 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
- All Saints Catholic College 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 22% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hyde High School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Trinity School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- West Hill School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ashton Sixth Form College 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- Safe Start School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2025)
- Dixons Pennine Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 13% grade 5+ English and maths
- Alder Community High School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Audenshaw School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Thomas More RC College 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Rayner Stephens High School's Ofsted rating?
Rayner Stephens High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 21 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Rayner Stephens High School 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 Rayner Stephens High School?
94% of the 18 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Rayner Stephens High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Rayner Stephens High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 131 families put Rayner Stephens High School as their first choice for 161 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 130 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 148430.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 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.