Classpot

Southlands High School

Chorley, PR7 2NJSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Feb 2024
Progress 8
-0.49
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.5×
Not oversubscribed
66 1st-choice / 141 places
Ranking
#2,589
of 3,141 nationally

About Southlands High School

For parents considering Southlands High School, the first signal is that it is a popular choice locally. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 208 applications for 141 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.48. Of those, 66 families put it as their first preference, and all 66 received an offer. That level of demand suggests it holds a solid reputation among Chorley families, even though the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It currently has 931 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,050, so there is some headroom. The headteacher is Paul Bousfield. Around 27.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and gives a sense of the school's intake.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressClover Road, Chorley, Chorley, PR7 2NJ
HeadteacherPaul Bousfield
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils931
Free School Meals (FSM)27.1%
School Capacity931 / 1,050 (89% 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

6 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Sports HallMusic RoomsICT SuiteSixth Form CentreSwimming PoolAstro TurfGymnasiumArt StudiosTennis CourtsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

DanceTennisRugbyHockeyGymnasticsRoundersSwimmingNetballRowingBadminton

Clubs & Activities

DramaModel United NationsArt ClubChoirOrchestraScience Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:05

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Southlands High School

Southlands 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.