Classpot

Balshaw's Church of England High School

South Ribble, PR25 3AHSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
Progress 8
+0.18
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
215 1st-choice / 183 places
Ranking
#1,131
of 3,141 nationally

About Balshaw's Church of England High School

Balshaw's Church of England High School is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in South Ribble, part of the Lancashire local authority, where it ranks 3rd out of 11 schools of its type in the borough. The three schools ahead of it locally are Preston Muslim Girls High School, Eden Boys' School, Preston, and Holy Cross Catholic High School. Headteacher Steven Haycocks leads a school that is clearly popular with local families: it is oversubscribed by a ratio of 3.43 to 1, with 628 applications for 183 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 164 of those offers went to first-preference families. The school's Church of England character is reflected in its on-site chapel, and it operates without a sixth form or nursery provision.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressChurch Road, Leyland, South Ribble, PR25 3AH
HeadteacherSteven Haycocks
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils933
Free School Meals (FSM)12.8%
School Capacity933 / 925 (101% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

2 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 20 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Art StudiosSports HallSwimming PoolDining HallLibraryScience LabsTennis CourtsGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

DanceRowingHockeyNetballCross CountryFootballRugbyCricketMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

ChessArt ClubGardeningChoirScience Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Source: balshaws.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Balshaw's Church of England High School

Balshaw's Church of England High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.