Penwortham Girls' High School
100%
Capacity
800
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Penwortham Girls' High School
Penwortham Girls' High School sits in the Lancashire local authority, a state-funded girls' secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16. Within South Ribble, it ranks second out of 11 schools of the same type, placing it in the top 25 per cent nationally by Progress 8 score. Its closest high-performing peers in the wider Lancashire area include Preston Muslim Girls High School, Eden Boys' School in Preston, and Holy Cross Catholic High School. The school is oversubscribed by a significant margin: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 502 applications for 160 places, with 143 offers going to first-preference families from a total of 166 first-preference applications. That works out at roughly 3.14 applicants for every available spot. Headteacher Sharon Hall leads a school that is at full capacity with 800 pupils on roll, and 16.5 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals, which is broadly in line with national averages for a school of this type.
Academically, Penwortham Girls' High School is a strong performer. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Outstanding across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The school has held an Outstanding rating since at least its previous inspection in 2014. In the 2023/24 exam results, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.57, which is well above average nationally and significantly higher than the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11. Attainment 8 came in at 57.5, and 86.2 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The English Baccalaureate entry rate was 73.6 per cent, with 64.2 per cent of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Progress in the EBacc subjects was particularly strong at 0.77, while maths progress was more modest at 0.19.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, art studios, a theatre, a swimming pool, tennis courts, astro turf, and a library. Sports on offer include netball, hockey, rowing, athletics, and cricket, while extracurricular clubs range from science club and debate to choir, orchestra, and Model UN. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no sixth form or nursery provision, and the school is not a boarding school. For families in South Ribble and the surrounding area who are looking for a high-achieving, oversubscribed girls' school with strong academic outcomes and a wide range of enrichment, Penwortham Girls' High School is a compelling option, though securing a place will require a first-preference application.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Cop Lane, Preston, South Ribble, PR1 0SR |
| Headteacher | Sharon Hall |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 800 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.5% |
| School Capacity | 800 / 800 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.57)
410th of 3,141
Nationally
40th of 445
In North West
2nd of 11
In South Ribble
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 153 pupils).
- Sixth form college59%
- FE college25%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
95% 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.
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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed160
502
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
166 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% 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 half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British67.9%
- Asian18.0%
- Mixed6.7%
- White (other)3.6%
- 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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
12
Total schools
12
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 Penwortham Girls' 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
Cop Lane, Preston
South Ribble, PR1 0SR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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