Best Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Kirkham Pear Tree School is an outstanding all-through school located in Kirkham, North West. With a student teacher ratio of 7:1, our dedicated staff provide high-quality education and care for students aged 2-19. Our school is known for its strong leadership, excellent teaching, and effective safeguarding arrangements. We offer individualized programs for students with special educational needs and have a detailed understanding of their strengths and areas for improvement. At Kirkham Pear Tree School, we prioritize stimulating and cutting-edge learning opportunities to ensure the best outcomes for our students.

Pendle Community High School & College is an outstanding secondary school located in Nelson, North West. With a caring and welcoming environment, the school achieves excellent outcomes for students, including those with special educational needs. The high quality of teaching and learning ensures that students make outstanding progress, despite their low starting points. The school is known for its exemplary pupil behaviour and is highly regarded for its leadership and management effectiveness. Overall, Pendle Community High School & College provides a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Chorley Astley Park School is an outstanding all-through school, providing personalized learning and exceptional support for diverse needs. With highly skilled staff, the school has a nurturing ethos and promotes excellent behaviour and respect. Parents praise the school for its outstanding progress and positive feedback.

St Thomas's Centre is an outstanding all-through school in Blackburn with Darwen. With exceptional leadership and personalised support, the school ensures every student receives the highest quality education. With a focus on personal development and welfare, St Thomas's Centre creates a nurturing environment for students to thrive.

Thornton-Cleveleys Red Marsh School is an outstanding all-through school located in Wyre, North West. With a strong culture of high aspirations and teamwork, the school provides a nurturing and inclusive environment for students aged 2-19. The school boasts a highly qualified staff, with a student teacher ratio of 7:1, ensuring personalized attention to each student's needs. Safety and quality education are paramount, as reflected in the outstanding Ofsted report and Snobe grade. The school also emphasizes personal and online safety, making it an ideal choice for parents seeking a well-rounded education for their child.

Great Arley School is a co-educational all-through school located in Wyre, North West. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, the school prides itself on positive relationships and effective safeguarding. Pupils make good progress and leave well-prepared for the next phase of their education. The school's assessment systems ensure accurate evaluation of progress. While some tasks may not always match pupils' abilities closely enough, Great Arley School remains committed to providing a good overall education.

Ridgewood Community High School is a secondary school located in Burnley, North West. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity, independence, aspiration, and resilience, the school prioritizes positive relationships and personalized interventions to ensure every student's success. The leadership team has maintained a good quality of education, and the school's outstanding behavior and safety standards provide a nurturing environment for learning. The broad curriculum focuses on developing essential skills and offers vocational learning opportunities. While the school faces challenges with attendance rates and tracking progress for different groups of pupils, Ridgewood Community High School strives to provide a supportive and inclusive educational experience for its students.

Woodlands School is a co-educational all-through school located in Blackpool. With a student teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides personalized attention and support to its students. The school offers nursery classes and has a sixth form. Under the leadership of Mrs Karen Haworth, the school maintains a good overall effectiveness with outstanding behavior and safety of pupils. The curriculum is tailored to meet individual needs and pupils make good progress. However, there are limited opportunities for students to improve independent living skills in the wider community. Overall, Woodlands School ensures a caring and inclusive environment where parents can have high expectations for their children's education.

Sir Tom Finney Community High School is a co-ed secondary school located in Preston, North West. With a student-teacher ratio of 9:1 and a strong focus on personal development and welfare, this school ensures that each student receives individual attention and support. The school has received a Good overall grade from Ofsted, with Outstanding ratings for personal development and 16 to 19 study programmes. The school offers effective careers guidance and promotes exemplary behavior among students. However, improvements are needed in teaching and learning at key stage 3, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Overall, Sir Tom Finney Community High School provides a safe and nurturing environment for students to achieve good progress in their academic and personal growth.

Educational Diversity is a co-ed middle deemed secondary school in Blackpool, North West. With a passionate leadership team and effective interventions, the school is dedicated to helping vulnerable pupils succeed. Strong safeguarding arrangements and positive relationships between staff and students create a safe and supportive learning environment.

The Coppice School is an all-through special school in Bamber Bridge, South Ribble. With a strong partnership with parents and carers, the school maintains good quality education for children aged 2-19. They have a well-designed curriculum that meets individual needs, a culture of high expectations, and effective safeguarding. The school focuses on addressing the learning needs of each student through diversified and engaging settings, ensuring they grow into content, secure, and driven adults.

Hillside Specialist School and College is an all-through co-ed school catering to students aged 3-19 with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. With a student-teacher ratio of 4:1, personalized curriculum, and creative teaching methods, the school provides a nurturing environment where students thrive. The school focuses on supporting sensory needs and promoting self-improvement. Although there are some areas for improvement, such as teachers' assessments and attendance, the school ensures that pupils behave well, feel safe, and make good progress in their education. Hillside Specialist School and College offers a comprehensive educational experience for students with ASD.

Shaftesbury High School, founded in 2003, is a co-educational secondary school located in Chorley, North West. With a total of 75 students, the school offers a good quality education, fostering outstanding personal development. Led by Headteacher Ms Abigale Bowe, the school provides support for students with special educational needs and maintains a positive learning environment.

Mayfield School is an all-through school located in Chorley, North West. With a student-teacher ratio of 9:1, our dedicated teachers provide a nurturing environment for students aged 2-19. We offer a wide range of special educational needs support and have excellent resources. Our good Ofsted rating reflects the high quality of teaching, achievement of pupils, and their safety. Mayfield School is committed to providing a positive learning experience for all students.

Larches High School is a co-ed secondary school located in Moor Park, Preston. Established in 1999, the school provides a nurturing environment with strong leadership. With a comprehensive range of interventions, students receive excellent support. While attendance is below average, pupil progress and achievement are good.

The Acorns School is a good secondary school in West Lancashire. It provides a caring, structured learning environment where pupils can develop academically, socially, and emotionally. The school has a strong focus on supporting students with special educational needs and offers a wide-ranging, well-balanced curriculum.

McKee College House is a co-ed secondary school located in Wyre. With a strong leadership team led by Mr Andrew Murray, the school has been providing quality education since 2003. With a focus on personal development, behavior, and welfare, the school ensures that all students thrive academically and socially. The school offers support for students with special educational needs and has a diverse student population. With a good Ofsted rating, parents can be confident in choosing McKee College House for their child's education.

Crosshill Special School is a co-educational secondary school located in Darwen, North West. With a student teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides a supportive learning environment for students with moderate learning difficulties. The school has received a Good overall effectiveness rating from Ofsted, with Outstanding grades for behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development. Sixth-form provision is also rated as Outstanding.

Oswaldtwistle School is a welcoming and safe secondary school in Oswaldtwistle, North West. With a good overall effectiveness rating and strong leadership and management, the school provides a supportive environment for students. They offer a wide range of subjects and have a strong provision for special educational needs. While reading and writing skills may need improvement, the school focuses on ensuring good progress and behavior by pupils. In addition, they provide effective information, advice, and guidance for Year 11 pupils.

Chadwick High School is a co-ed secondary school located in Lancaster. With a focus on providing quality education, the school has a good overall effectiveness rating from Ofsted. The dedicated staff ensures a positive learning environment, and the school supports students with special educational needs. The school also prioritizes personal development and promotes good behavior and attitudes.