Wade Deacon High School
100%
Capacity
1,618
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
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.
Academically, Wade Deacon is the highest-performing school in Halton by some margin. Its Progress 8 score of 0.17 is classed as above average nationally and sits well above the local authority average of -0.57. In the North West, it ranks 120th out of 445 schools. Attainment 8 stands at 48.2, and 68.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths — the basics measure. The school also encourages a broad curriculum: 57.1% of pupils entered the EBacc, and 30.2% achieved it at grade 5 or above. Progress in English is notably strong at 0.27, while maths progress is more modest at 0.06. The EBacc average point score is 4.26. In its previous inspection in 2011, the school was also rated Outstanding, so this is a sustained track record rather than a one-off.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, science labs, and a sixth form centre, though it does not have a sixth form of its own. Sports provision includes hockey, tennis, badminton, martial arts, and dance, while clubs range from debate and orchestra to gardening, eco club, and chess. SEND support covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With its strong academic outcomes, high demand, and comprehensive facilities, Wade Deacon is a natural first choice for families across Halton who want a high-performing state secondary. The oversubscription ratio means a realistic first-preference application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Birchfield Road, Widnes, Halton, WA8 7TD |
| Headteacher | Brendan Hesketh |
| Local Authority | Halton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,618 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,618 / 1,625 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.17)
1162nd of 3,141
Nationally
120th of 445
In North West
1st of 7
In Halton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 310 pupils).
- FE college77%
- Sixth form college6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained4%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed328
659
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
350 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 14:45
Source: wadedeacon.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.0%
- White (other)4.6%
- Mixed3.5%
- Asian1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
14
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Wade Deacon 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Birchfield Road, Widnes
Halton, WA8 7TD
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