Penwortham Priory Academy
99%
Capacity
744
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Penwortham Priory Academy
Penwortham Priory Academy is a mixed secondary school in South Ribble for pupils aged 11 to 16, and it is currently running very close to full capacity with 744 pupils against a school capacity of 750. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 25.4%, which is notably higher than the national average and signals a significant level of socio-economic diversity within the intake. Demand for places is extremely high: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 514 applications for just 150 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.43. Of those, 153 families listed it as their first preference, and 135 first-preference offers were made. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular choice locally, despite its relatively modest academic ranking within Lancashire, where it sits 58th out of 90 similar schools.
Academically, Penwortham Priory's most recent Progress 8 score is -0.36, which places it in the 'Below average' banding nationally and ranks it 9th out of 11 schools in South Ribble. This is below the Lancashire local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.11, indicating that pupils overall make less progress than their peers across the county. The Attainment 8 score is 40.5, and the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths is 58.6%, dropping to 35.5% at grade 5 or above. Only 17.1% of pupils entered the EBacc, and 11.8% achieved it at grade 4 or above. In its most recent graded inspection in March 2020, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This was an improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and music rooms, and runs clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, orchestra, and debate. Sports provision includes rugby, rowing, and gymnastics. SEND support covers a wide spectrum, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent View responses from 161 respondents are overwhelmingly positive: 89% would recommend the school, and 92% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. The school does not have a sixth form or nursery provision, and it is not a boarding school. For families who prioritise a strong community feel and a school that has improved its Ofsted rating, Penwortham Priory is a compelling option, though those focused on top-tier academic progress may want to compare it with nearby outstanding schools like Penwortham Girls' High School, just one kilometre away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Crow Hills Road, Preston, South Ribble, PR1 0JE |
| Headteacher | M Eastham |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 744 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.4% |
| School Capacity | 744 / 750 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Mar 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 17 Mar 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.36)
2366th of 3,141
Nationally
300th of 445
In North West
9th of 11
In South Ribble
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 135 pupils).
- FE college64%
- Sixth form college17%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained4%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
96% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
161 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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
514
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
153 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.1%
- Asian6.5%
- Mixed5.7%
- White (other)2.6%
- 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
2024/2575% 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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
5
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 Priory Academy
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
Crow Hills Road, Preston
South Ribble, PR1 0JE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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