SchoolScoresWade Deacon High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of WADE DEACON TRUST
Birchfield Road, Widnes, WA8 7TD
0151 423 2721 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 29 November 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
317 pupils in this year group.
62% — 23 points above the Halton average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 62% | 39% | 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. | 54 | 42.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.8 | 3.6 | 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.
309 pupils in this year group.
93% — about the same as the Halton average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 6% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 9% | 9% | 13% |
| Further education college | 79% | 69% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 93% |
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 Halton. 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 offered | 343 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 393 |
| Of those, offered a place | 341 (87%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 735 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
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 | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 27.0% | 42.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.7% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 14.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.5% | 4.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Lower than 82% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.4% | 9.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Lower than 78% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.4% | 28.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Lower than 66% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1 | 20.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Lower than 61% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.4% | 8.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.25% | 0.50% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 89% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 19.2 | 16.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.6 | 10.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Widnes. Higher than 49% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0% | 13.0%* | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ormiston Chadwick Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Tower College 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Rainhill High School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Grange School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Wade Deacon High School's Ofsted rating?
Wade Deacon High School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 November 2022.
How did Wade Deacon High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 17 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Wade Deacon High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 393 families put Wade Deacon High School as their first choice for 343 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 341 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 139368.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.