Classpot

Cowley International College

St. Helens, WA10 6PNSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2026
Progress 8
-0.69
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
236 1st-choice / 242 places
Ranking
#2,832
of 3,141 nationally

About Cowley International College

Cowley International College is a popular choice among local families, with 559 applications for 242 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.31. Of those 559 applicants, 236 put the school as their first preference, and 230 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though the school does not publish a parent view survey or recommend percentage. The school is a large mixed secondary with a sixth form, located in St. Helens, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 judged it to remain Good overall, a rating it has held across its last two inspections. Leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and sixth-form provision were all rated Good in the most recent graded inspection in 2016, and the ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school continues to meet that standard.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHard Lane, St Helens, St. Helens, WA10 6PN
HeadteacherRussell Cormack
Local AuthoritySt. Helens
Number of Pupils1,498
Free School Meals (FSM)40.9%
School Capacity1,498 / 1,620 (92% full)
Sixth FormYes

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
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

24 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (24 Nov 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 22 Nov 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Swimming PoolPlaying FieldsAstro TurfSports HallDining HallICT SuiteMusic RoomsScience LabsLibraryTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RowingHockeyDanceAthleticsBadmintonGymnasticsSwimmingCricket

Clubs & Activities

DramaGardeningYoung EnterpriseDuke of EdinburghFilm ClubEco ClubModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Cowley International College

Cowley International College has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.