School profile

Penwortham Priory Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Preston, PR1 0JE

Good

Map showing Penwortham Priory Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,465 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

Penwortham Priory Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 3 Mar 2020

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 16
Pupils745
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr M Eastham
TrustODYSSEY ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityLancashire
Opened01 Nov 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138948.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.47, similar to England, similar to Lancashire45.346.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.64.5%, similar to England, similar to Lancashire63.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.49.6%, better than England, better than Lancashire43.8%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.14.2%, similar to England, similar to Lancashire12.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths63.8%, better than England, better than Lancashire59.1%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4141--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils745
Girls314
Boys431
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.24.7%
First language not English5.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,152
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.35.3%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.96
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.23
Average class size26.6

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
80.9%
Other mixed
2.7%
Indian
2.7%
African
2.4%
Other White
2.3%
White and Black Caribbean
1.9%
Pakistani
1.7%
Other Asian
1.3%
White and Asian
1.1%
Other ethnic group
0.8%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher18.8
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.13.2
Teachers (FTE)39.62
Teaching assistants (FTE)9.68
Support staff (FTE)38.27
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2541.1
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2536.1
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/255

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.151
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.513
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.164
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.139
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Overall absence7.4%, better than England, better than Lancashire8.1%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.19.1%, better than England, better than Lancashire21.8%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.2.1%, better than England, better than Lancashire3.5%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate18.7%
Pupils with one or more suspensions8.9%
Permanent exclusion rate0.8%
Permanent exclusions6

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.87.5%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.77.6%
Further education44.7%
Sixth form college30.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.8.6%
Apprenticeship5.9%
Employment3.9%
School sixth form2%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Penwortham Priory Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimaryPenwortham Primary SchoolCommunity school
Requires improvement
0.1 miPrimaryPenwortham, St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.5 miPrimaryWhitefield Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miSecondaryPenwortham Girls' High SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.7 miPrimaryCop Lane Church of England Primary School, PenworthamVoluntary aided school
Good
0.7 miSecondaryAll Hallows Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided school
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimaryHowick Church Endowed Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Outstanding
1.0 miNot applicableAshbridge Independent SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
1.2 miPrimaryPenwortham Broad Oak Primary SchoolFoundation school
Good
1.2 miPrimaryPenwortham Middleforth Church of England Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good

Frequently asked questions about Penwortham Priory Academy

What is Penwortham Priory Academy's Ofsted rating?

Penwortham Priory Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 3 Mar 2020.

How does Penwortham Priory Academy rank in England?

Penwortham Priory Academy ranks 1,465 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools).

What are Penwortham Priory Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 49.6% of pupils at Penwortham Priory Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 47 (England 46.2).

How hard is it to get into Penwortham Priory Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Penwortham Priory Academy made 151 offers from 513 applications (3.4 per offer), and 139 of 164 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Penwortham Priory Academy?

Penwortham Priory Academy has 745 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of Penwortham Priory Academy?

Penwortham Priory Academy had 1,152 school places in 2024/25.

Does Penwortham Priory Academy have a sixth form?

No, Penwortham Priory Academy teaches pupils up to age 16.

How big are classes at Penwortham Priory Academy?

At Penwortham Priory Academy, the average class had 26.6 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 18.8 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Penwortham Priory Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Penwortham Priory Academy missed 7.4% of sessions (England 8%), and 19.1% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.