Penketh High School

Penketh High School is performing well across various domains, earning a 'Good' rating in the overall effectiveness of its educational offerings. The headteacher, along with the trustees, have set high ambitions for all pupils, significantly enhancing their educational journey since the school's founding in 2017. Notable advancements have been made, particularly in the academic performance of disadvantaged pupils, who have shown marked improvement in their GCSE results. The school fosters a positive environment, where pupils feel safe, engaged, and supported by their educators.

Strengths

• High ambitions set by leadership for all pupils
• Strong academic performance across the curriculum
• Improved achievements for disadvantaged pupils
• Effective and well-planned education for pupils with SEND
• Positive pupil behaviour and attitudes
• Wide range of clubs and extracurricular activities

Areas for Improvement

• Key stage 3 curriculum does not fully meet national curriculum requirements in some subjects
• Some disadvantaged pupils continue to have poor attendance

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 Penketh High School attended 92.3% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 19.8% 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, 7.3% of pupils at Penketh High School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 5 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 Penketh High School had 16.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.1% 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, 13.0% of pupils at Penketh High School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 6.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has resourced provision with 20 pupils.

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 Penketh High School received £8,269 and spent £8,154 for each of its 1,023 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £974,000 (-£952 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of The Challenge Academy Trust, income was £7,634 and spending £7,638 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 Warrington · Warrington local authority: places and applications

Penketh High School is part of The Challenge Academy Trust, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• Great Sankey Primary School Warrington
• Penketh South Community Primary School Warrington
• Dallam Community Primary School Warrington
• Priestley College Warrington
• Beamont Collegiate Academy Warrington
• Meadowside Community Primary and Nursery School Warrington
• Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School Warrington
• Bridgewater High School Warrington
• Broomfields Junior School Warrington
• Padgate Academy Warrington

What is Penketh High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Penketh High School is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Penketh High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Penketh High School was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Penketh High School have?

Penketh High School has 1,058 pupils on roll.

What age range does Penketh High School cover?

Penketh High School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Penketh High School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 47.7, and 48% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Penketh High School?

Penketh High School is at Heath Road, Penketh, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 2BY.