Classpot

Penwortham Girls' High School

South Ribble, PR1 0SRSecondaryAges 11–16GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
May 2024
Progress 8
+0.57
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
166 1st-choice / 160 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#410 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCop Lane, Preston, South Ribble, PR1 0SR
HeadteacherSharon Hall
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils800
Free School Meals (FSM)16.5%
School Capacity800 / 800 (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

21 May 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Art StudiosScience LabsTennis CourtsAstro TurfSwimming PoolGymnasiumMusic RoomsLibraryTheatreSixth Form CentreDining HallPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

BasketballAthleticsSwimmingHockeyRoundersNetballRowingCricket

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubDebateChoirOrchestraNewspaperModel United NationsEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:20

After-school care

15:20-16:15

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Penwortham Girls' High School

Penwortham Girls' High School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.