Tarleton Academy

Tarleton Academy continues to demonstrate a good standard of education since its last inspection in 2018. Pupils express happiness and pride in their school, citing the positive impact of new facilities on their learning experiences. The school boasts high expectations for behavior, effective measures to address bullying, and strong leadership committed to the success of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). While Pupils generally achieve well and are well-prepared for the next steps in their education, there are areas identified for improvement in certain subject curriculums and communication with parents about pupil progress.

Strengths

• Pupils are proud of their new building and facilities.
• High expectations for pupils' behavior have led to a positive learning environment.
• Leaders effectively address bullying incidents.
• Most pupils achieve well and are well prepared for future educational paths.
• Broad range of opportunities for personal development and extra-curricular activities.
• Curriculum is well-organized in many subjects.
• Effective support for pupils who struggle with reading.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects have curriculums in earlier stages of development, hindering learning.
• Leaders' communication with parents about pupil progress needs improvement.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Tarleton Academy attended 90.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 28.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 10.2% of pupils at Tarleton Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 6 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Tarleton Academy had 18.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 31.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 20.5% of pupils at Tarleton Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Tarleton Academy received £8,236 and spent £8,244 for each of its 676 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,027,000 (£1,520 per pupil).

Across all 10 schools of Endeavour Learning Trust, income was £7,792 and spending £7,806 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Preston · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

Tarleton Academy is part of Endeavour Learning Trust, which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Northbrook Primary Academy Leyland
• Woodlea Junior School Leyland
• Strike Lane Primary School Preston
• Wellfield Academy Leyland
• Churchtown Primary School Southport
• Burscough Priory Academy Ormskirk
• Linaker Primary School Southport
• Ormskirk School Ormskirk
• Brindle Gregson Lane Primary School Preston
• Hawes Side Academy Blackpool

What is Tarleton Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Tarleton Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Tarleton Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Tarleton Academy was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Tarleton Academy have?

Tarleton Academy has 674 pupils on roll.

What age range does Tarleton Academy cover?

Tarleton Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Tarleton Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 42.5, and 39% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Tarleton Academy?

Tarleton Academy is at Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 6AQ.