Academy sponsor led · Blackpool

South Shore Academy

11–16Ages
550Pupils
SecondaryPhase
151443URN

St Annes Road, Blackpool, FY4 2AR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Inadequate

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

0.4 below Blackpool median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackpool

151 applications for 124 places · 8th of 8 in Blackpool

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

34.4of 90

Blackpool 35.2 England 46.0

6th of 8 in Blackpool

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Overall effectiveness: Inadequate · 27 June 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes		Inadequate
Personal development	Requires improvement
Leadership and management		Inadequate

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

1.2applications per place, Year 7

0.4 below Blackpool median (1.6) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

151 applications · 124 places offered · 77 named it first

2026 1.2; Blackpool median median 1.6
2025 1.0; Blackpool median median 1.7
2024 1.3; Blackpool median median 1.7; as the previous school
2023 1.5; Blackpool median median 1.8; as the previous school
2022 1.6; Blackpool median median 1.7; as the previous school
2021 1.2; Blackpool median median 2.0; as the previous school
2020 1.0; Blackpool median median 2.2; as the previous school
2019 1.2; Blackpool median median 2.1; as the previous school
2018 1.3; Blackpool median median 2.1; as the previous school
2017 1.1; Blackpool median median 1.8; as the previous school
2016 1.1; Blackpool median median 2.4; as the previous school
2015 1.1; Blackpool median median 2.4; as the previous school
2014 1.4; Blackpool median median 1.6; as the previous school

This school
Blackpool median

Dashed bars: as South Shore Academy (URN 140021), Palatine Community Sports College (URN 119769), the previous school.

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	124	151	1.2	77	0.62
Sep 2025	146	148	1.0	71	0.49
Sep 2024 *	97	124	1.3	74	0.76
Sep 2023 *	114	171	1.5	95	0.83
Sep 2022 *	92	143	1.6	78	0.85
Sep 2021 *	143	171	1.2	97	0.68
Sep 2020 *	171	166	1.0	84	0.49
Sep 2019 *	155	183	1.2	92	0.59
Sep 2018 *	136	173	1.3	89	0.65
Sep 2017 *	151	171	1.1	86	0.57
Sep 2016 *	174	187	1.1	74	0.43
Sep 2015 *	159	181	1.1	69	0.43
Sep 2014 *	174	250	1.4	94	0.54

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

111 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)34.46th of 8 in Blackpool

Blackpool 35.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths25%6th of 8 in Blackpool

Blackpool 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths45%

Blackpool 49% England 66%

This school
Blackpool median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.64

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	111	34.4	25%	45%	–
2024/25					–
2023/24 *	158	22.8	9%	20%	−1.64
2022/23 *	141	21.6	11%	23%	−1.91

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

South Shore AcademyThis school
This school

Special measures Inadequate2023

1.2applications per place 34.4Attainment 8
Armfield Academy
0.8 km · Blackpool

Good2023

2.2applications per place 34.2Attainment 8
Highfield Leadership Academy
1.3 km · Blackpool

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 35.2Attainment 8
St George's School A Church of England Academy
1.9 km · Blackpool

Improved significantly2025

2.6applications per place 55.4Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic Academy
3.7 km · Blackpool

2026

2.2applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
Unity Academy Blackpool
4.4 km · Blackpool

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 27.9Attainment 8
Blackpool Aspire Academy
4.9 km · Blackpool

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
Baines School
5.5 km · Lancashire

2026

2.6applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
Lytham St Annes High School
6.2 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2022

1.8applications per place 46.1Attainment 8

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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 151443 · 890/4007
Trust: Cidari Education Limited
Capacity: 985 pupils · 550 on roll
Free school meals: 67.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 October 2024
Replaced: South Shore Academy (URN 140021); Palatine Community Sports College (URN 119769)
Address: St Annes Road, Blackpool, FY4 2AR
Local authority: Blackpool

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