Greenbank High School
777%
Capacity
1,034
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Greenbank High School
Greenbank High School is a girls' secondary school in Sefton that currently teaches 1,034 pupils, though its official capacity is listed as just 133 — a figure that appears to be a data anomaly given the school's size. What is clear is that the school serves a community with significant disadvantage: 44.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and placing it among the most deprived intakes in the local authority. Despite this, the school is heavily oversubscribed, with 91% of parents who responded to the Parent View survey saying they would recommend it. The school has no religious character and is a state-funded academy, with Davina Aspinall as headteacher. It also operates as a boarding school and has a sixth form, though the age range is listed as 11-16, suggesting the sixth form may be a separate or recent addition.
Academically, Greenbank's results are among the weakest nationally. Its Progress 8 score of -2 is ranked 3,129th out of 3,141 schools in England, placing it in the bottom 1% of all schools. This is well below the Sefton local authority average of -0.59, and the school ranks 14th out of 14 similar schools in the area. Attainment 8 sits at just 1.5, and no pupils entered the EBacc or achieved a grade 5 or 4 in English and maths. However, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 was far more positive. The school was judged Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes rated Outstanding — a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2023. Leadership and management, quality of education, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all rated Good.
Facilities at Greenbank are strong for a state school, including an astro turf, tennis courts, a swimming pool, sports hall, science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports and clubs, from rowing and rugby to chess, coding, and orchestra. For SEND, the school supports pupils with moderate learning difficulties, and 100% of Parent View respondents with SEND children said the school gives them the support they need. The school is best suited to families who prioritise behaviour and personal development over raw academic outcomes, and who value a school that has made clear progress in leadership and culture. Given its oversubscription and strong parent satisfaction, it is clearly a popular choice locally despite its exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Hastings Road, Southport, Sefton, PR8 2LT |
| Headteacher | Davina Aspinall |
| Local Authority | Sefton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,034 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,034 / 133 (777% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Boarding | Yes — Boarding school |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-2.00)
3129th of 3,141
Nationally
445th of 445
In North West
14th of 14
In Sefton
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 grades similar to the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Ofsted Parent View
54 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: greenbankhigh.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- Mixed5.8%
- White (other)2.5%
- Asian0.8%
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.
Half 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
3
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 Greenbank High 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Hastings Road, Southport
Sefton, PR8 2LT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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