Up Holland High School

About Up Holland High School

Up Holland High School’s Progress 8 score of -0.22 places it below the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11, meaning pupils here make less academic progress from Key Stage 2 to 4 than their peers across the county. This is a secondary modern-style comprehensive in West Lancashire, and its ranking within the LA reflects that: it sits 46th out of 90 schools of the same type, and 6th out of 8 schools in the West Lancashire district specifically. The school’s overall Progress 8 banding is classified as ‘Average’, but the negative score shows it is on the lower end of that band. For context, the top-performing schools in the LA, such as Preston Muslim Girls High School and Eden Boys’ School, Preston, achieve Progress 8 scores well above +0.8, so Up Holland is operating in a different academic league. Parents should note that while the headline metric is below the LA norm, the school’s performance in open subjects (Progress 8 Open: -0.04) is much closer to the average, suggesting that core academic subjects are where the gap is most pronounced.

Looking at the 2023/24 exam results in more detail, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 47.6, which is a solid mid-range figure for a non-selective state school. The basics measure – the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths – stands at 49.1 per cent, meaning roughly half of students hit that benchmark. The EBacc entry rate is relatively low at 23.3 per cent, and only 11.9 per cent of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above, which is below the national average. Breaking down the Progress 8 components, maths (-0.38) and English (-0.25) are the weakest areas, while open subjects (-0.04) are essentially in line with expectations. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.01 is modest, and its ranking nationally places it in the bottom 50 per cent of schools by Progress 8, at the 65th percentile from the bottom. For families focused on academic outcomes, these figures suggest a school that is broadly average but with some underperformance in core subjects compared with the LA.

On the practical side, Up Holland High School is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 11 to 16, with 861 pupils on roll. The headteacher is Paul Scarborough. Facilities include art studios, music rooms, a theatre, ICT suite, tennis courts, playing fields, and a chapel, which is unusual for a non-faith school. Sports provision covers badminton, football, rowing, rugby, hockey, and cricket, and there is a decent range of extracurricular clubs including Drama, Book Club, Coding, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Film Club, Eco Club, and Art Club. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection rated it Good overall, and it has held that rating across its recent inspections. There is no mention of a sixth form, so pupils will need to move on after Year 11. Given the below-average Progress 8 score, this school is likely to suit families who value a broad range of activities and a supportive environment over top-tier academic outcomes, particularly those whose children may struggle with core subjects but thrive in creative or practical areas.

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