Stanley High School
About Stanley High School
Stanley High School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary in Sefton that currently teaches 836 pupils, well above its official capacity of 750. That overspill is reflected in the demand for places: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 255 applications for 144 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.77, and 112 of those offers went to first-preference families. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged cohort, with 23.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, compared with the national secondary average of around 23%. This intake profile is important context for understanding the school’s recent Ofsted rating. In its most recent graded inspection, carried out in April 2025, Stanley was judged to require improvement across all four key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. That marks a clear step down from its previous inspection in February 2020, when it was rated Good in every category. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 165 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Apr 2025From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 23 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:00
Breakfast club
08:00-08:30
After-school care
15:00-16:00
Source: stanleyhigh.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stanley High School
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications