Stanley High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of SOUTHPORT LEARNING TRUST

Fleetwood Road, Southport, PR9 9TF

01704 228940 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 23 April 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths31%England 45% · 2024/25
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 19% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils783Room for 750 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 603 in 2019, 669 in 2021, 734 in 2022, 814 in 2023, 841 in 2024, 836 in 2025, 783 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9121 for 137 places, September 2026
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 36% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 23 April 2025, 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 educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentRequires improvement
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

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

Sefton comparisons use the 9 of its 18 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 9 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 schoolSeftonEngland
My child is happy at this school
5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 81% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 30% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 83% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
63% 70% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 72 parents whose child had been bullied
5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 54% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
51% 48% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 147 parents who had raised a concern
5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 48% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 66% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 74 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 33% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
53% 55% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sefton.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74%said yes 74% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 20%). 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. Sefton figures pool parents at the Sefton 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

176 pupils in this year group.

31% — 9 points below the Sefton average, and 15 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSeftonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 31% 40% 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. 40.6 42.9 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 3.7 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: 28%This school 2023/24: 26%This school 2024/25: 31% This school England 45% 2022/23 28% 2023/24 26% 2024/25 31%

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.

134 pupils in this year group.

90% — about the same as the Sefton average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 80%10%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSeftonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 89% 92%
School sixth form 5% 25% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 2% 13%
Further education college 80% 53% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
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 Sefton. 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 offered137
Families who put it first121
Of those, offered a place121 (100%)
Families who listed it at all233

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 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 Sefton

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSeftonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
24.2% 29.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.6% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.3% 16.0%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.5% 7.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Lower than 35% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.2% 10.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
27.2% 28.2%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Lower than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
18.1 14.8 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Lower than 43% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
7.5% 7.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.12% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 50% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.8 16.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.7 11.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southport.
Higher than 74% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
18.1% 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 Stanley High School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 23 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Stanley High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 31% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 15 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Stanley High School?

74% of the 165 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Stanley High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Stanley High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 121 families put Stanley High School as their first choice for 137 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 121 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.