The Hollins

About The Hollins

The Hollins, a mixed secondary school in Hyndburn for pupils aged 11 to 16, holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent graded inspections. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.16, which places it in the 'Average' banding nationally. This score means that, on average, pupils achieve slightly below the expected progress compared with their peers across England. Within Lancashire, the school ranks 40th out of 90 similar state secondaries, and in the Hyndburn local authority area it sits 2nd out of 6 schools. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.11, so The Hollins is a fraction behind that benchmark. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 42, and 60.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though that figure drops to 36.8% when looking at grade 5 or above.

The school’s EBacc entry rate is relatively low at 12.3%, and only 6.5% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Breaking down Progress 8 by subject, English comes closest to the national average at -0.07, while maths is further behind at -0.23. The school’s ranking data shows it falls in the bottom 50 nationally by Progress 8, but within the North West region it sits around the midpoint, ranked 224th out of 445 schools. Parent feedback from the most recent survey period is broadly positive: 77% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy (83%), feels safe (83%), and that the school has high expectations (82%). However, views on SEND support are more divided, with 25% of parents disagreeing and 25% strongly disagreeing that the school gives SEND children the support they need.

The Hollins is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 497 applications for 158 places, with 164 first-preference applications and 156 first-preference offers. The school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, as 32.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Facilities include playing fields, science labs, music rooms, a gymnasium, ICT suites, a theatre, and a chapel. The school offers a range of sports and clubs, from cricket and netball to debate and Model UN. Its SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With no sixth form or nursery provision, this is a straightforward 11-16 option for families in Hyndburn who want a Good-rated school with a strong parent vote on happiness and safety, but who should investigate SEND support carefully if their child has additional needs.

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