Outwood Academy Haydock
91%
Capacity
819
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Outwood Academy Haydock
Outwood Academy Haydock has turned a significant corner. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was awarded a Good rating across all four graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This marks a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when the school was rated Inadequate overall. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.28, which is classified as 'Below average' nationally. However, placed in local context, this score actually sits slightly above the St. Helens local authority average of -0.31, ranking the school 6th out of 9 secondary schools in the borough. This suggests that while the school is not yet matching the top performers in the area, it is broadly in line with the typical progress made by pupils across St. Helens.
Looking deeper at the 2023/24 exam results, the picture is mixed but shows clear strengths. The school's Attainment 8 score sits at 41.2, and 55.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though this drops to 31.8% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The English Progress 8 score is a bright spot at 0.03, meaning pupils here make progress in English that is almost exactly in line with the national average. Maths progress, at -0.52, is a weaker area. The EBacc entry rate is 24.1%, with 17.6% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above across the EBacc subjects. The school's average EBacc APS of 3.59 reflects a solid, if not outstanding, academic baseline. For context, the top-performing school in the LA, Carmel College, has a Progress 8 score of 0.38, highlighting the gap Haydock is working to close.
The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26, there were 307 applications for 141 places, a ratio of 2.18 applicants per place, with 138 first-preference offers made. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, as 38% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, and a sports hall. The school also offers a wide range of SEND provisions, covering needs from dyslexia and autism to speech and language difficulties. Parent View responses, based on 82 respondents, show 68% would recommend the school. While 72% of parents agree their child is happy, only 43% feel SEND children get the support they need, and just 46% feel concerns are dealt with properly. This school will suit families who value its improved Ofsted rating and broad facilities, but who are aware that academic progress, particularly in maths, is still developing.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Clipsley Lane, St. Helens, St. Helens, WA11 0JG |
| Headteacher | Philip Abram |
| Local Authority | St. Helens |
| Number of Pupils | 819 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.0% |
| School Capacity | 819 / 900 (91% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 24 Oct 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.28)
2201st of 3,141
Nationally
272nd of 445
In North West
6th of 9
In St. Helens
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
Ofsted Parent View
82 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed141
307
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
138 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:00
Source: haydock.outwood.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- White (other)2.7%
- Mixed2.5%
- Asian1.8%
- Black0.1%
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 Outwood Academy Haydock
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
Clipsley Lane, St. Helens
St. Helens, WA11 0JG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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