Penwortham Priory Academy
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Crow Hills Road Penwortham Preston Lancashire PR1 0JE |
| Phone | 01772320250 |
| Reference Number | 138948 |
Penwortham Priory Academy is a rapidly improving school that has made significant strides since its previous inspection, which rated it as requiring improvement. Currently rated as good overall, the school has shown advancements in the quality of education, with pupils feeling happy and safe. Leadership is ambitious for all students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils. The academy has implemented effective measures to enhance learning experiences and improve examination results, particularly in core subjects like English and mathematics, where most students now achieve in line with national averages. While the school has many strengths, challenges remain, especially in subjects such as history and science, where improvements are not as pronounced. The proportion of pupils entered for the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is notably low, indicating further work is needed to ensure that all students have access to a broad range of academic qualifications. Attendance rates for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are also a concern and need to be addressed to support the achievements of these groups effectively.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 744 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 56.85%
Girls: 43.15% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 25.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 5.4% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 25.7 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 84 | 64 | 148 |
| 8 | 92 | 60 | 152 |
| 9 | 83 | 66 | 149 |
| 10 | 90 | 51 | 141 |
| 11 | 74 | 80 | 154 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 82.1% |
| Indian | 2.7% |
| White, Other | 2.6% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.2% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.2% |
| Pakistani | 1.9% |
| African | 1.6% |
| Asian, Other | 1.1% |
| White & Asian | 0.9% |
| Chinese | 0.8% |
| Unclassified | 0.7% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.4% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| Last Report Date | 03 Mar 2020 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 25 Mar 2025 | School inspection |
| 03 Mar 2020 | School inspection: |
| 19 Dec 2018 | Monitoring visit |
| 05 Jul 2017 | Full inspection: |
| 01 Mar 2016 | Monitoring visit |
| 17 Nov 2015 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Jul 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Nov 2012 | Academy conversion letter |
| 28 Nov 2011 | Curriculum and development visit |
| Previously as Priory Sports and Technology College, Penwortham | |
| 28 Nov 2011 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 17 May 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 17 May 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Nov 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Nov 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 20 May 2002 | Full inspection |
| 20 May 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Ambitious leadership focused on all pupils' success
- Significant improvements in education quality
- Pupils are happy, feel safe, and are well-behaved
- Curriculum enhances learning in core subjects
- Strong extra-curricular opportunities
- Pupils with SEND are well supported and integrated
- Effective safeguarding arrangements
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent improvement across subjects
- Low entry rates for the English Baccalaureate
- Attendance issues for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 43.2 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 38.1% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 54.8% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 175 | 11 |
| Third Preference | 185 | 4 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
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UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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