Classpot

Rainhill High School

St. Helens, L35 6NYSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
Progress 8
-0.12
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
279 1st-choice / 291 places
Ranking
#1,821
of 3,141 nationally

About Rainhill High School

Rainhill High School sits in the middle of the pack in St. Helens, but its headline Progress 8 score of -0.12 is notably stronger than the local authority average of -0.31 for secondary schools. That gap of nearly 0.2 points means pupils here are making more academic progress than the typical student across the borough, even if the score itself is slightly below the national average of zero. In a local authority where only one of eleven secondary schools holds an Outstanding rating, Rainhill’s solid Good grade from its most recent 2023 inspection places it among the better-performing options. Its ranking of 5th out of 9 schools in the LA on Progress 8 puts it just behind the top three — Carmel College, Rainford High, and St Augustine of Canterbury — but ahead of several others. For parents comparing schools within St. Helens, Rainhill offers above-average progress relative to the local benchmark, which is a meaningful differentiator in this area.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressWarrington Road, Prescot, St. Helens, L35 6NY
HeadteacherJosie Thorogood
Local AuthoritySt. Helens
Number of Pupils1,810
Free School Meals (FSM)15.5%
School Capacity1,810 / 1,550 (117% full)
Sixth FormYes

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

22 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Science LabsArt StudiosDining HallSports HallSixth Form CentreSwimming PoolAstro TurfICT Suite

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

TennisRowingHockeyGymnasticsFootballRoundersMartial ArtsNetball

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubBook ClubDramaEco ClubDebateCodingChoirOrchestraScience 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rainhill High School

Rainhill High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.