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Academy converter · Lancashire

Bowland High

  • 11–16Ages
  • 644Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 136997URN

Riversmead, Sawley Road, Grindleton, Clitheroe, BB7 4QS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2022 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
3.1per place
0.6 above Lancashire median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LancashireSelective

413 applications for 133 places · 23rd of 81 in Lancashire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
48.4of 90
25th of 81 in Lancashire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 7 December 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

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
3.1applications per place, Year 7
0.6 above Lancashire median (2.5) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

413 applications · 133 places offered · 138 named it first

  1. 2026 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
  2. 2025 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.7
  3. 2024 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
  4. 2023 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.6
  5. 2022 3.7; Lancashire median median 2.5
  6. 2021 4.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
  7. 2020 4.0; Lancashire median median 2.8
  8. 2019 4.0; Lancashire median median 2.7
  9. 2018 4.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
  10. 2017 3.6; Lancashire median median 2.7
  11. 2016 3.7; Lancashire median median 2.7
  12. 2015 3.8; Lancashire median median 2.7
  13. 2014 4.1; 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261334133.11381.04
Sep 20251344483.31531.14
Sep 20241404623.31571.12
Sep 20231374343.21431.04
Sep 20221013753.7950.94
Sep 20211094504.11431.31
Sep 20201104424.01561.42
Sep 20191094384.01611.48
Sep 20181144694.11531.34
Sep 20171134053.61381.22
Sep 20161104053.71221.11
Sep 20151084153.81361.26
Sep 20141104474.11381.25

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

110 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.425th of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%34th of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths73%
  • This school
  • Lancashire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.38
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)11048.444%73%–
2024/2510847.843%70%–
2023/2411349.654%75%+0.38
2022/2311548.544%72%+0.19

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

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136997 · 888/4041
Trust
Achievement Through Collaboration Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
575 pupils · 644 on roll
Free school meals
10.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 August 2011
Replaced
Bowland High (URN 119726)
Address
Riversmead, Sawley Road, Grindleton, Clitheroe, BB7 4QS
Local authority
Lancashire · Ribble Valley

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