Bowland High
107%
Capacity
615
Pupils
3.3x
Demand
About Bowland High
Bowland High, a mixed state secondary in Ribble Valley, Lancashire, holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a step down from the Outstanding it achieved in 2016. The school’s strongest academic signal is its Progress 8 score of 0.38, which places it well above the national average and significantly ahead of the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11. This means pupils at Bowland High typically make nearly half a grade more progress per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks second out of six secondary schools in Ribble Valley on this measure, and sits in the top 25% of schools nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 49.6 reflects solid overall GCSE performance, with 75.2% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 54% reaching the higher grade 5 benchmark.
Ofsted’s breakdown shows that every aspect of the school — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — was rated Good in 2022. The Progress 8 breakdown reveals particular strength in open subjects (0.64) and maths (0.41), while English progress is more modest at 0.15. The school’s Ebacc entry rate is low at 8.8%, and only 6.2% of pupils achieved the Ebacc at grade 4 or above, which is worth noting for families who prioritise that qualification. The previous Outstanding rating in 2016 suggests the school has historically performed at a very high level, and the current Good grade still places it among the stronger schools in the region. With 615 pupils against a capacity of 575, the school is oversubscribed, and only 8.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average.
Bowland High offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and an ICT suite. Sports provision includes swimming, rugby, badminton, dance, rounders, and athletics, while extracurricular clubs cover choir, Debate, Chess, Science Club, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school supports a wide spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 448 applications for 134 places, with 153 first-preference applications and 130 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.34. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress in a well-equipped, community-focused setting, particularly those who value swimming and a wide club programme.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Riversmead, Grindleton, Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, BB7 4QS |
| Headteacher | Laura Fielden |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 615 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.5% |
| School Capacity | 615 / 575 (107% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Dec 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 1 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.38)
677th of 3,141
Nationally
69th of 445
In North West
2nd of 6
In Ribble Valley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
2022/2327%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 107 pupils).
- FE college47%
- School sixth form (stay)27%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Sixth form college6%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained3%
97% 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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed134
448
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
153 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:20
Source: bowland.atctrust.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.8%
- Mixed2.4%
- White (other)2.3%
- Asian1.2%
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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bowland High
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
Riversmead, Grindleton, Clitheroe
Ribble Valley, BB7 4QS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
