Classpot

Rayner Stephens High School

Tameside, SK16 5BLSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-1.03
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
105 1st-choice / 155 places
Ranking
#3,035
of 3,141 nationally

About Rayner Stephens High School

Rayner Stephens High School sits in Tameside, a local authority where secondary school performance varies widely. Among the 18 state secondaries in the borough, the school ranks 16th by Progress 8, placing it behind top-performing peers like Laurus Ryecroft, Fairfield High School for Girls, and St Thomas More RC College. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is St Damian's RC Science College, about 4.5 kilometres away. Rayner Stephens itself was graded Requires Improvement in its most recent 2023 inspection, a step up from its previous Inadequate rating. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage — 43.8 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Headteacher Martin Davies leads a mixed, non-denominational secondary for 11- to 16-year-olds, with no sixth form on site. The school currently has 628 pupils against a capacity of 831, meaning there is room to grow, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 262 applications for 155 places.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressYew Tree Lane, Dukinfield, Tameside, SK16 5BL
HeadteacherMartin Davies
Local AuthorityTameside
Number of Pupils628
Free School Meals (FSM)43.8%
School Capacity628 / 831 (76% 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

26 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 8 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
LibrarySwimming PoolMusic RoomsDining HallAstro TurfScience LabsTheatreSports HallArt StudiosTennis Courts

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

RugbyHockeyRoundersCross CountryGymnasticsMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

DramaDebateModel United NationsCodingChoirNewspaperArt ClubYoung EnterpriseGardeningDuke of Edinburgh

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: raynerstephens.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rayner Stephens High School

Rayner Stephens High School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.