Classpot

Wade Deacon High School

Halton, WA8 7TDSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Nov 2022
Progress 8
+0.17
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
350 1st-choice / 328 places
Ranking
#1,162
of 3,141 nationally

About Wade Deacon High School

Wade Deacon High School is a large secondary in Halton, operating very close to its full capacity of 1,625 pupils with a current roll of 1,618. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: 26.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national average of around 23%. Demand is strong, with 659 applications for 328 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.01. Of those, 350 families put Wade Deacon as their first preference, and 325 first-preference offers were made. The school is the only one in Halton rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent inspection in November 2022 awarded top marks across the board — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all received the highest grade. Brendan Hesketh has been headteacher since at least that inspection.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBirchfield Road, Widnes, Halton, WA8 7TD
HeadteacherBrendan Hesketh
Local AuthorityHalton
Number of Pupils1,618
Free School Meals (FSM)26.6%
School Capacity1,618 / 1,625 (100% 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

29 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
LibrarySwimming PoolSports HallScience LabsSixth Form CentreGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

DanceBadmintonHockeyMartial ArtsTennisSwimming

Clubs & Activities

DebateOrchestraGardeningEco ClubChess

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 14:45

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wade Deacon High School

Wade Deacon High School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.