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Academy converter · Halton

Wade Deacon High School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,658Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 139368URN

Birchfield Road, Widnes, WA8 7TD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Outstanding
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.1per place
close to Halton median (2.0)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Halton

735 applications for 343 places · 3rd of 7 in Halton
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
49.2of 90
1st of 8 in Halton
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 29 November 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding

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
2.1applications per place, Year 7
close to Halton median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

735 applications · 343 places offered · 393 named it first

  1. 2026 2.1; Halton median median 2.0
  2. 2025 2.0; Halton median median 2.0
  3. 2024 2.2; Halton median median 1.8
  4. 2023 2.1; Halton median median 1.8
  5. 2022 2.0; Halton median median 1.7
  6. 2021 2.0; Halton median median 1.7
  7. 2020 2.1; Halton median median 1.7
  8. 2019 2.1; Halton median median 1.3
  9. 2018 1.9; Halton median median 1.6
  10. 2017 2.1; Halton median median 1.6
  11. 2016 2.1; Halton median median 1.6
  12. 2015 2.2; Halton median median 1.9
  13. 2014 2.2; Halton median median 1.9
More applications per place than the Halton median in 12 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Halton 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 20263437352.13931.15
Sep 20253286592.03501.07
Sep 20243176962.24261.34
Sep 20233226622.13951.23
Sep 20223196222.03631.14
Sep 20213156162.03871.23
Sep 20203116472.13701.19
Sep 20193096372.14211.36
Sep 20183085781.93601.17
Sep 20173306972.14181.27
Sep 20162996152.13941.32
Sep 20152996452.24001.34
Sep 20142986422.24331.45

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

318 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)49.21st of 8 in Halton
Grade 5 or above in English and maths54%1st of 8 in Halton
Grade 4 or above in English and maths73%
  • This school
  • Halton median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.17
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)31849.254%73%–
2024/2531754.062%77%–
2023/2430848.247%69%+0.17
2022/2330952.457%77%+0.39

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
139368 · 876/4207
Trust
Wade Deacon Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,625 pupils · 1,658 on roll
Free school meals
25.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 March 2013
Replaced
Wade Deacon High School (URN 111435); Fairfield High School (URN 111432)
Address
Birchfield Road, Widnes, WA8 7TD
Local authority
Halton

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