Academy converter · Lancashire

Garstang Community Academy

11–16Ages
750Pupils
SecondaryPhase
137342URN

Bowgreave, Garstang, Preston, PR3 1YE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.3per place

0.3 below Lancashire median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LancashireSelective

356 applications for 156 places · 52nd of 81 in Lancashire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.0of 90

Lancashire 43.8 England 46.0

38th of 81 in Lancashire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 26 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education			Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes			Requires improvement
Personal development			Requires improvement
Leadership and management			Requires improvement

Inspection history

26 March 2024
Graded inspection: Requires improvement
18 January 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

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

2.3applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below Lancashire median (2.5) close to England median (2.2)

356 applications · 156 places offered · 131 named it first

2026 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
2025 2.4; Lancashire median median 2.7
2024 2.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2023 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
2022 2.4; Lancashire median median 2.5
2021 2.5; Lancashire median median 2.6
2020 2.4; Lancashire median median 2.8
2019 2.6; Lancashire median median 2.7
2018 2.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2017 2.5; Lancashire median median 2.7
2016 2.5; Lancashire median median 2.7
2015 2.1; Lancashire median median 2.7
2014 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Lancashire median in 0 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	156	356	2.3	131	0.84
Sep 2025	139	328	2.4	100	0.72
Sep 2024	171	407	2.4	119	0.70
Sep 2023	180	414	2.3	151	0.84
Sep 2022	172	420	2.4	131	0.76
Sep 2021	174	441	2.5	168	0.97
Sep 2020	174	409	2.4	147	0.84
Sep 2019	169	435	2.6	173	1.02
Sep 2018	167	397	2.4	165	0.99
Sep 2017	168	411	2.5	158	0.94
Sep 2016	156	383	2.5	138	0.88
Sep 2015	168	359	2.1	158	0.94
Sep 2014	146	341	2.3	134	0.92

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

154 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.038th of 81 in Lancashire

Lancashire 43.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%28th of 81 in Lancashire

Lancashire 39% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths69%

Lancashire 64% England 66%

This school
Lancashire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.30

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	154	45.0	47%	69%	–
2024/25	155	44.8	45%	64%	–
2023/24	163	42.5	45%	63%	−0.30
2022/23	166	45.0	40%	65%	−0.32

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

Garstang Community AcademyThis school
This school

Requires improvement2024

2.3applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
Broughton High School
9.5 km · Lancashire

Outstanding2022

4.6applications per place 55.5Attainment 8
Fulwood Academy
11.8 km · Lancashire

Good2023

2.3applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
Corpus Christi Catholic High School
12.2 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

5.8applications per place 54.1Attainment 8
Our Lady's Catholic High School
12.3 km · Lancashire

Good2022

3.6applications per place 54.9Attainment 8
Archbishop Temple Church of England High School
12.6 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.7applications per place 56.9Attainment 8
Longridge High School
12.6 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2021

1.7applications per place 51.1Attainment 8
St Cecilia's RC High School
12.8 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.7applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
Saint Aidan's Church of England High School
13.3 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2023

3.0applications per place 43.4Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137342 · 888/4160
Trust: Fylde Coast Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 915 pupils · 750 on roll
Free school meals: 20.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2011
Replaced: Garstang High School : A Community Technology College (URN 119747)
Address: Bowgreave, Garstang, Preston, PR3 1YE
Local authority: Lancashire · Wyre

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