Saint Aidan's CofE High School

Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Church of England

Cartgate, Preesall, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 0NP

01253 810504 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 1 October 2013; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 50% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils820Room for 869 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 844 in 2019, 856 in 2021, 853 in 2022, 847 in 2023, 839 in 2024, 835 in 2025, 820 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.2195 for 160 places, September 2026
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 82% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 October 2013.

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
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

68 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.

StatementThis schoolLancashireEngland
My child is happy at this school
3rd highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 96% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 78% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 97% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99% 83% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 91% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 74% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 26 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 11th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 50% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 47% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 47 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 29 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 88% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 65% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND
Joint 6th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 67% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 62% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
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%said yes 74% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). 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.

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Results

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

167 pupils in this year group.

44% — about the same as the Lancashire average, and 2 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 44% 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. 47 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.2 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 49%This school 2023/24: 45%This school 2024/25: 44% This school England 45% 2022/23 49% 2023/24 45% 2024/25 44%

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.

166 pupils in this year group.

95% — 5 points above the Lancashire average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 48%33%
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. 95% 90% 92%
School sixth form 2% 12% 34%
Sixth form college 48% 20% 13%
Further education college 33% 48% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 5% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%95%

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 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered160
Families who put it first195
Of those, offered a place157 (81%)
Families who listed it at all483

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.2

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.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

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 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.9% 26.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.2% 2.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.6% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.6% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.1% 8.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Lower than 74% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
18.4% 22.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Lower than 80% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.6 21.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Lower than 71% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.3% 8.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.53% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 54% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.0 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.2 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Higher than 18% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.2% 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 Saint Aidan's CofE High School's Ofsted rating?

Saint Aidan's CofE High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 October 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Saint Aidan's CofE High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 44% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Saint Aidan's CofE High School?

100% of the 68 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Saint Aidan's CofE High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Saint Aidan's CofE High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 195 families put Saint Aidan's CofE High School as their first choice for 160 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 157 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.