Whitworth Community High School
92%
Capacity
651
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Whitworth Community High School
Whitworth Community High School is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Rossendale, Lancashire, currently operating below its full capacity with 651 pupils against a school capacity of 709. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 23.3%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and reflects the school's role in serving a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 322 total applications for 129 places, with 190 of those coming as first preferences. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.5, meaning more than two families applied for every available spot. Of those first-preference applicants, 128 were offered places, indicating that almost all families who put Whitworth as their top choice secured a place, but competition remains high for the remaining spots.
Academically, Whitworth sits in a solid middle ground. Its Progress 8 score of -0.08 is slightly below the national average of zero but above the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11, placing it 34th out of 90 schools in the county. The school's Attainment 8 score of 43.8 is respectable, and 62.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though this drops to 33.6% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. Progress in maths (0.1) and English (0.05) are both positive, meaning pupils typically make slightly better progress in these core subjects than the national average. The EBacc entry rate is low at 16%, and only 9.6% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent graded inspection in 2014, the school was rated Good overall, with Good leadership and management, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good.
The school offers a practical range of facilities including science labs, art studios, a sports hall, tennis courts, playing fields, and a chapel, alongside clubs such as Model UN, Young Enterprise, and an Eco Club. Sports provision includes rowing, cross country, and martial arts, which is an unusual and appealing mix for a state school. SEND support is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no sixth form or nursery provision. Whitworth is a good fit for families in Rossendale who want a well-subscribed local secondary with strong core subject progress, a broad extracurricular offer, and a clear track record of supporting pupils with additional needs, particularly given its oversubscribed status and above-average demand.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Hall Street, Hallfold, ROCHDALE, Rossendale, OL12 8TS |
| Headteacher | Andrew Oliver |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 651 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.3% |
| School Capacity | 651 / 709 (92% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 24 Dec 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1732nd of 3,141
Nationally
198th of 445
In North West
2nd of 6
In Rossendale
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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: 122 pupils).
- FE college53%
- Sixth form college28%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained7%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Employment1%
92% 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed129
322
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
190 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:00
Breakfast club
08:30-08:45
Source: wchs.co. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.9%
- Mixed2.2%
- Asian1.4%
- White (other)0.5%
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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 Whitworth Community 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
Hall Street, Hallfold, ROCHDALE
Rossendale, OL12 8TS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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