Our Lady's Catholic High School
79%
Capacity
902
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Our Lady's Catholic High School
Our Lady's Catholic High School in Preston is a state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds that is currently running well below its capacity, with 902 pupils against a school capacity of 1,148. That leaves around a fifth of its places unfilled, which is striking given the local demand for school places. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 39.8%, significantly higher than the national average and a clear indicator that the school serves a community with considerable economic disadvantage. Despite this spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 admissions, receiving 548 applications for 188 places, with 149 first preference offers made. That works out at nearly three applicants for every place, suggesting that for many local families, particularly those within the Roman Catholic community the school serves, it remains a first choice despite its current Ofsted rating.
Academically, the school's most recent data paints a challenging picture. Its Progress 8 score of -0.51 is well below the local authority average of -0.11, placing it 66th out of 90 similar schools in Lancashire and in the bottom 50 nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 37.7 is modest, and only 50% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 28.7% at the higher threshold. EBacc entry is low at 14.7%, and just 4% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the school's sixth form performs better, with a value added score of 0.35, rated above average, and an average grade of C across the best three A-levels. However, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, though inspectors noted that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all Good.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a chapel, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre, and runs clubs from Model UN to gardening and Young Enterprise. Sports provision is strong, with rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics alongside more traditional options. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, covering ten different needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families considering this school, the key trade-off is clear: it serves a disadvantaged intake with genuine community demand, but academic outcomes are currently below local averages. The improving Ofsted judgement on behaviour and leadership may signal a school on an upward trajectory, but parents will want to see sustained progress in results before the next inspection.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | St Anthony's Drive, Preston, Preston, PR2 3SQ |
| Headteacher | Richard Charnock |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 902 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.8% |
| School Capacity | 902 / 1,148 (79% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.51)
2614th of 3,141
Nationally
337th of 445
In North West
11th of 11
In Preston
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 significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
34.4
'22/23
30.0
'23/24
28.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2338%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 124 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)38%
- FE college38%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment5%
89% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2332%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 50 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
15%
Russell Group
31%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)32%
- Employment32%
- Not sustained16%
- Other education14%
- Further education4%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology16
- English Language and Literature6
- History6
- Religious Studies5
- Chemistry4
- Physics4
- Biology3
- Design and Technology (Product Design)3
- Geography3
- Mathematics3
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed188
548
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
149 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.6%
- White (other)8.2%
- Asian5.6%
- Mixed3.7%
- Black0.5%
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.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
9
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady's Catholic 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
St Anthony's Drive, Preston
Preston, PR2 3SQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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