Voluntary controlled school · Lancashire

Balshaw's Church of England High School

11–16Ages
921Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
119775URN

Church Road, Leyland, PR25 3AH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.5per place

1.0 above Lancashire median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LancashireSelective

630 applications for 179 places · 12th of 81 in Lancashire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

53.0of 90

Lancashire 43.8 England 46.0

17th of 81 in Lancashire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 2 February 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.5applications per place, Year 7

1.0 above Lancashire median (2.5) 1.3 above England median (2.2)

630 applications · 179 places offered · 201 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.6
2025 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.7
2024 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2023 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
2022 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.5
2021 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
2020 3.7; Lancashire median median 2.8
2019 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.7
2018 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
2017 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.7
2016 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.7
2015 3.0; Lancashire median median 2.7
2014 2.7; Lancashire median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Lancashire median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Lancashire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	179	630	3.5	201	1.12
Sep 2025	183	628	3.4	215	1.17
Sep 2024	186	625	3.4	213	1.15
Sep 2023	184	612	3.3	221	1.20
Sep 2022	182	628	3.5	228	1.25
Sep 2021	183	596	3.3	228	1.25
Sep 2020	180	672	3.7	272	1.51
Sep 2019	185	610	3.3	215	1.16
Sep 2018	184	578	3.1	207	1.13
Sep 2017	183	585	3.2	216	1.18
Sep 2016	185	573	3.1	207	1.12
Sep 2015	185	554	3.0	250	1.35
Sep 2014	185	500	2.7	211	1.14

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

179 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)53.017th of 81 in Lancashire

Lancashire 43.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths51%20th of 81 in Lancashire

Lancashire 39% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths76%

Lancashire 64% England 66%

This school
Lancashire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.18

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	179	53.0	51%	76%	–
2024/25	188	52.3	57%	79%	–
2023/24	177	52.1	58%	80%	+0.18
2022/23	177	50.7	53%	81%	+0.01

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Balshaw's Church of England High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

3.5applications per place 53.0Attainment 8
Wellfield Academy
1.2 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2021

2.1applications per place 34.8Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic High School
1.6 km · Lancashire

Standards maintained2025

3.0applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
Academy@Worden
1.9 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
Parklands High School
4.4 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2023

3.6applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
St Michael's Church of England High School
4.5 km · Lancashire

Good2022

3.5applications per place 60.6Attainment 8
Lostock Hall Academy
4.7 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2022

2.8applications per place 47.2Attainment 8
Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School
5.3 km · Lancashire

Standards maintained2025

2.3applications per place 44.4Attainment 8
Southlands High School
5.7 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2024

1.7applications per place 40.4Attainment 8

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 119775 · 888/4500
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 925 pupils · 921 on roll
Free school meals: 13.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Church Road, Leyland, PR25 3AH
Local authority: Lancashire · South Ribble

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources