Holy Cross Catholic High School

About Holy Cross Catholic High School

Holy Cross Catholic High School in Chorley is a secondary state school for pupils aged 11 to 16, and it is currently full to the brim. With 977 pupils on roll against a capacity of 975, the school is operating at maximum capacity, and demand is intense. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 575 applications for just 191 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.01 to one. Of those, 217 families put it as their first preference, and 180 first-preference offers were made, meaning a significant number of families who wanted a place did not get one. The school’s intake reflects a relatively low level of disadvantage compared with the national picture: 12.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the national average for secondary schools. As a Roman Catholic school, its admissions criteria will naturally prioritise faith-based applicants, but the sheer volume of applications suggests its reputation extends well beyond the Catholic community in Chorley.

Academically, Holy Cross is performing well above the local and national norm. Its Progress 8 score of 0.75 is rated as well above average, meaning pupils here make significantly more progress than similar pupils nationally. That score places the school first out of six schools in the Chorley local authority area, and 23rd out of 445 schools in the North West region. Nationally, it ranks in the top 7% of all schools. The Attainment 8 score of 56.9 is strong, and 84.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 65.8% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score of 5.07 is solid, and 37.4% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. For context, the Lancashire local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.11, so Holy Cross is a full 0.86 points above that benchmark. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was judged to remain Good, with leadership and management also rated Good.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, sports hall, astro turf, and music rooms, and pupils can choose from sports such as rugby, rowing, martial arts, and netball, plus clubs like Model UN, coding, and eco club. There is no sixth form or nursery provision, so pupils leave at 16. The school’s SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Given its oversubscription, this is a school that suits families who are committed to a Catholic education and who value strong academic progress above the local average. Parents should be prepared for a competitive admissions process and should ensure they meet the faith-based criteria if that applies. For families outside the Catholic faith, securing a place will be even more challenging, though not impossible.

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