Academy converter · Lancashire

St Michael's Church of England High School

11–16Ages
1,134Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
136893URN

Astley Road, Chorley, PR7 1RS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 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

770 applications for 219 places · 12th of 81 in Lancashire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

60.6of 90

Lancashire 43.8 England 46.0

6th of 81 in Lancashire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 September 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
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)

770 applications · 219 places offered · 311 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.6
2025 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.7
2024 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2023 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.6
2022 3.7; Lancashire median median 2.5
2021 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
2020 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.8
2019 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.7
2018 3.6; Lancashire median median 2.6
2017 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.7
2016 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.7
2015 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.7
2014 2.9; 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	219	770	3.5	311	1.42
Sep 2025	225	708	3.2	256	1.14
Sep 2024	221	757	3.4	299	1.35
Sep 2023	221	770	3.5	280	1.27
Sep 2022	221	811	3.7	306	1.38
Sep 2021	224	733	3.3	279	1.25
Sep 2020	226	750	3.3	262	1.16
Sep 2019	225	785	3.5	298	1.32
Sep 2018	224	799	3.6	286	1.28
Sep 2017	228	736	3.2	253	1.11
Sep 2016	225	702	3.1	246	1.09
Sep 2015	225	764	3.4	286	1.27
Sep 2014	228	659	2.9	274	1.20

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

224 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)60.66th of 81 in Lancashire

Lancashire 43.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths73%5th of 81 in Lancashire

Lancashire 39% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths92%

Lancashire 64% England 66%

This school
Lancashire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.56

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	224	60.6	73%	92%	–
2024/25	225	58.9	72%	91%	–
2023/24	225	59.7	78%	92%	+0.56
2022/23	224	57.9	75%	91%	+0.49

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

St Michael's Church of England High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

3.5applications per place 60.6Attainment 8
Parklands High School
0.8 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2023

3.6applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
Albany Academy
2.3 km · Lancashire

Good2024

3.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Southlands High School
2.3 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2024

1.7applications per place 40.4Attainment 8
Holy Cross Catholic High School
2.6 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2022

3.2applications per place 55.4Attainment 8
Balshaw's Church of England High School
4.5 km · Lancashire

Good2023

3.5applications per place 53.0Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic High School
5.6 km · Lancashire

Standards maintained2025

3.0applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
Wellfield Academy
5.6 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2021

2.1applications per place 34.8Attainment 8
Academy@Worden
6.2 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136893 · 888/4686
Trust: St Michael's Church of England Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 1,125 pupils · 1,134 on roll
Free school meals: 3.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 July 2011
Replaced: St Michael's Church of England High School (URN 119795)
Address: Astley Road, Chorley, PR7 1RS
Local authority: Lancashire · Chorley

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