Tarleton Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of ENDEAVOUR LEARNING TRUST

Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, Preston, PR4 6AQ

01772 812644 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 4 December 2014; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%England 45% · 2024/25
9th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 60% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils674Room for 750 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 605 in 2019, 665 in 2021, 694 in 2022, 704 in 2023, 691 in 2024, 675 in 2025, 674 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9129 for 137 places, September 2026
13th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 47% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 December 2014.

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 managementOutstanding

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 13 July 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

128 pupils in this year group.

48% — 4 points above the Lancashire average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 48% 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. 46.3 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.1 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: 53%This school 2023/24: 43%This school 2024/25: 48% This school England 45% 2022/23 53% 2023/24 43% 2024/25 48%

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.

129 pupils in this year group.

94% — 4 points above the Lancashire average, and 2 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 17%66%
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. 94% 90% 92%
School sixth form 1% 12% 34%
Sixth form college 17% 20% 13%
Further education college 66% 48% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 5% 3%
Work 5% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%94%

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 offered137
Families who put it first129
Of those, offered a place127 (98%)
Families who listed it at all304

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
16th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.2% 26.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
19th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.3% 2.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
14th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
20th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.9% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
20th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.4% 8.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
20th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
28.6% 22.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
20th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
26.4 21.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
19th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 26% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.2% 8.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils 0.89% 0.53% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 78% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.2 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 5th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.2 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 22 state secondary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 96% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
31.0% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Tarleton Academy's Ofsted rating?

Tarleton Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 December 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 13 July 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Tarleton Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Tarleton Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 129 families put Tarleton Academy as their first choice for 137 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 127 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.