Classpot

Lancaster High School

Lancaster, LA1 3LSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-0.61
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
96 1st-choice / 120 places
Ranking
#2,741
of 3,141 nationally

About Lancaster High School

Lancaster High School is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary in the Lancashire local authority, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. It ranks 6th out of 7 schools in the Lancaster district when measured by Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of schools locally. The top-performing peers in the wider Lancashire area include Preston Muslim Girls High School, Eden Boys' School in Preston, and Holy Cross Catholic High School, all of which achieved significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The school is heavily oversubscribed for its 120 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, receiving 345 total applications and 96 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.88. This suggests strong local demand despite its middling academic rank. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy, located 2.1 km away. Headteacher Colin Malone leads a school with 591 pupils against a capacity of 750, and a high proportion of pupils — 45.3 per cent — are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCrag Road, Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 3LS
HeadteacherColin Malone
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils591
Free School Meals (FSM)45.3%
School Capacity591 / 750 (79% 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

26 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 29 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Music RoomsTennis CourtsScience LabsSports HallSixth Form CentreICT SuiteDining HallTheatreLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

SwimmingFootballMartial ArtsRoundersBasketballTennis

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubChessFilm ClubDramaChoirDebateYoung EnterpriseArt Club

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lancaster High School

Lancaster 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.