West Hill School
100%
Capacity
853
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About West Hill School
West Hill School is a boys' secondary in Tameside, one of 18 state secondaries in the borough, and it sits squarely in the middle of the local pack. Ranked 9th out of 16 schools of its type by Progress 8 score, it falls behind the top-performing local peers — Laurus Ryecroft, Fairfield High School for Girls, and St Thomas More RC College — all of which post significantly higher scores. The school's own Progress 8 score of -0.31 is below the Tameside average of -0.19, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. That said, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for 157 places in 2025/26, it received 383 applications, with 203 first-preference choices and 150 offers made to first-preference families. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, even if the raw academic data doesn't put it among the LA's elite.
Academically, the picture is mixed. West Hill's Attainment 8 score of 44.3 is modest, and the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics95 measure) is 36.9%, while 64.4% achieved a grade 4 or above. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is low at 15.6%, and only 9.4% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Progress 8 is negative across the board, with English dragging the most at -0.5, while maths is closer to the national average at -0.12. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed it remains Good. That's an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2014, so the trajectory has been positive under headteacher Claire Cronin.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including science labs, music rooms, a library, and an astro turf pitch, with sports spanning swimming, rugby, rowing, and martial arts. There's no sixth form — the school runs to Year 11 only — and it's not a boarding school. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs, as well as physical disabilities and hearing impairment. With 25.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake. For families who want a single-sex boys' school in Tameside that's in high demand locally and has improved its Ofsted rating, West Hill is a pragmatic choice — though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may look to the higher-ranked peers nearby.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Thompson Cross, Stalybridge, Tameside, SK15 1LX |
| Headteacher | Claire Cronin |
| Local Authority | Tameside |
| Number of Pupils | 853 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.8% |
| School Capacity | 853 / 850 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (24 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 23 Dec 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.31)
2264th of 3,141
Nationally
283rd of 445
In North West
9th of 16
In Tameside
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 168 pupils).
- Sixth form college46%
- FE college35%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship4%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
93% 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
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed157
383
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
203 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 – 14:55
Source: westhillschool.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 75% 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 British76.9%
- Asian15.6%
- Mixed4.2%
- White (other)0.9%
- Black0.2%
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
12
Oversubscribed
11
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About West Hill 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
Thompson Cross, Stalybridge
Tameside, SK15 1LX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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