Baines School
84%
Capacity
747
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Baines School
Baines School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary in Wyre, Lancashire, currently educating 747 pupils against a capacity of 890. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 30.1%, which is significantly above the national average and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-typical levels of economic disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 403 applications for 152 places, with 99 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.65. The school does not have a sixth form, so students leave at 16. Clare Doherty is the headteacher. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated it Requires Improvement overall, a repeat of its 2019 rating, though behaviour and attitudes were judged Good in both inspections.
Academically, Baines School’s outcomes are well below the national average. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.59, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally and ranking it 7th out of 7 secondary schools in Wyre. This is significantly weaker than the Lancashire local authority average Progress 8 of -0.11. The Attainment 8 score was 44, and just 38.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs (the basics 5+ measure), compared with 61.2% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score was 3.61, and only 5.5% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress in English (-0.76) and maths (-0.69) was particularly weak. The school’s Progress 8 banding is described as ‘Well below average’.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, and music rooms, alongside clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and a gardening club. Its SEND provisions cover seven areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Given the high FSM rate and the oversubscription figures, Baines School clearly serves a local community that wants it, but the academic data and Ofsted rating suggest it is a school in need of improvement. It may suit families who prioritise a local, inclusive secondary with strong pastoral care (behaviour was rated Good) and who are comfortable with a school that is still working to raise attainment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Highcross Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, Wyre, FY6 8BE |
| Headteacher | Clare Doherty |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 747 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 30.1% |
| School Capacity | 747 / 890 (84% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
31 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 4 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.59)
2725th of 3,141
Nationally
357th of 445
In North West
7th of 7
In Wyre
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 164 pupils).
- Sixth form college59%
- FE college26%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained2%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
- Apprenticeship1%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed152
403
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
99 families put this school as their 1st choice (25% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: baines.lancs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.2%
- Mixed4.7%
- White (other)3.7%
- Asian1.7%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baines School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Highcross Road, Poulton-le-Fylde
Wyre, FY6 8BE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
