Rhyddings
89%
Capacity
683
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Rhyddings
Rhyddings, a mixed state secondary in Hyndburn for pupils aged 11 to 16, posts academic outcomes that sit well below the Lancashire local authority average for its school type. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.87 is significantly lower than the LA average of -0.11, meaning pupils here make considerably less progress from their starting points than their peers across the county. This places Rhyddings at the very bottom of the Hyndburn league table, ranked 6th out of 6 schools, and in the bottom 10% nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 33.5 is also modest, and just 23.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. With nearly half of its 683 pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, which is an important context for these figures.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged it as Requires Improvement across all four graded areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a repeat of its previous Requires Improvement rating from 2018, so there has been no upward movement. The breakdown of exam results shows particular weaknesses in maths, where Progress 8 is -1.03, and in the EBacc subjects, where it is -1.0. Only 3.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of qualifications, and just 2.9% achieved a strong pass in it. Parent opinion is mixed: 64% of the 22 respondents would recommend the school, and a majority agree their child is happy and feels safe, but only 41% feel concerns are dealt with properly, and 36% would not recommend it.
Rhyddings offers a range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a sports hall, plus clubs such as art, gardening, choir, science and coding. Its SEND provisions cover eight areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 218 applications for 92 places and 89 first-preference offers, giving a ratio of 2.37 applicants per place. There is no sixth form, so pupils must move on at 16. This school will suit families who value a broad range of activities and SEND support, but who are aware that academic outcomes are currently well below the local average and that Ofsted has flagged the need for improvement across the board.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Haworth Street, Accrington, Hyndburn, BB5 3EA |
| Headteacher | Dave Lancaster |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 683 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 46.8% |
| School Capacity | 683 / 771 (89% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.87)
2966th of 3,141
Nationally
403rd of 445
In North West
6th of 6
In Hyndburn
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
2022/236%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 129 pupils).
- FE college71%
- Not sustained12%
- School sixth form (stay)6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment5%
87% 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
22 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed92
218
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
89 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British48.5%
- Asian39.9%
- Mixed4.9%
- White (other)1.0%
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.
15
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
12
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 Rhyddings
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
Haworth Street, Accrington
Hyndburn, BB5 3EA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
