Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy
104%
Capacity
963
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy
Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy is a secondary school in Chorley that significantly outperforms the local authority average on academic progress. Its Progress 8 score of 0.53 is well above the Lancashire average of -0.11, meaning pupils here make roughly half a grade more progress per subject than their peers across the county. This places the school 12th out of 90 similar schools in Lancashire, and within the top 25% of schools nationally. The school is oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.4 to 1, with 220 first preference applications for 180 offers, which reflects its strong reputation among local families. Headteacher Paul Cowley leads a mixed, Church of England secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. The school has 963 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 930, and 8.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the national average.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, the school was rated Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2007 had rated it Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating still represents strong performance. Exam results from 2023/24 show an Attainment 8 score of 58.2, well above the national average of around 46.5. The proportion of pupils achieving grade 4 or above in English and maths was 91.3%, and 74.9% achieved grade 5 or above. The English Baccalaureate average point score was 5.3, with 65.1% of pupils entering the EBacc and 49.7% achieving it at grade 4 or above. Progress in English was particularly strong, with a Progress 8 score of 1.0, meaning pupils made a full grade more progress than the national average. Progress in maths and the EBacc subjects was also positive, at 0.36 each.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, playing fields, science labs, art studios, music rooms, a library, and a chapel. Sports on offer include badminton, hockey, football, netball, rugby, tennis, athletics, martial arts, and dance, while clubs include coding, orchestra, book club, film club, and a newspaper. The school provides support for a broad range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, hearing impairment, and physical disability. For families in Chorley and the surrounding area who prioritise strong academic progress and a well-resourced environment, Bishop Rawstorne is a compelling option, though its oversubscription means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Highfield Road, Leyland, Chorley, PR26 9HH |
| Headteacher | Paul Cowley |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 963 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.4% |
| School Capacity | 963 / 930 (104% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.53)
473rd of 3,141
Nationally
47th of 445
In North West
2nd of 6
In Chorley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 189 pupils).
- FE college69%
- Sixth form college12%
- Apprenticeship8%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained2%
98% 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed182
436
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
220 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British93.8%
- Mixed3.4%
- Asian0.9%
- White (other)0.5%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy
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
Highfield Road, Leyland
Chorley, PR26 9HH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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