Classpot

Holy Cross Catholic High School

Chorley, PR7 3LSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2022
Progress 8
+0.75
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
217 1st-choice / 191 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#225 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressMyles Standish Way, Chorley, Chorley, PR7 3LS
HeadteacherGreg Lindley
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils977
Free School Meals (FSM)12.3%
School Capacity977 / 975 (100% full)

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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

15 Sept 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (15 Sept 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Mar 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Music RoomsTheatrePlaying FieldsAstro TurfGymnasiumICT SuiteSixth Form CentreSports HallDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RugbyFootballMartial ArtsBadmintonCross CountryNetballTennisRowing

Clubs & Activities

ChessScience ClubDramaCodingEco ClubBook ClubModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:05

Source: holycross.lancs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Holy Cross Catholic High School

Holy Cross Catholic High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.