Schools by area › St. Helens › Cowley International College
Cowley International College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Community school
Hard Lane, St Helens WA10 6PN · cowley.st-helens.sch.uk · 01744 678030
On the mapSearch near WA10 6PN
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 39.3
- average Attainment 8 score. St. Helens 41.8, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,514
- 93% of 1,620 places
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 37.5%
- First language not English
- 7.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 213 families put the school first and 243 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 243 | 213 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 242 | 236 | 1 | 97% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 244 | 244 | 1 | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 277 | 250 | 0.9 | 96% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 243 | 267 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 39.3, and 30.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across St. Helens it was 41.8, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (25.3 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼39.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼30.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼48.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲53.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.54 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 45.9 | +3.8 |
| Sixth form college | 8.6 | +0.7 |
| Further education | 26.6 | −0.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 2 | −3.8 |
| Employment | 2.5 | −1.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.2 | −2.5 |
| Activity not captured | 6.1 | +4.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 students | C- (25.3) | Below average -0.37 | |
| 74 students | C- (25.6) | Below average -0.35 | |
| 59 students | Merit+ (26.9) | Average -0.15 | |
| 15 students | Dist- (30.3) | Average +0.32 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 70 | C (28.9) | -0.25 |
| 2022/23 | 75 | C- (26.5) | — |
| 2021/22 | 80 | C (30.1) | — |
| 2018/19 | 83 | C- (25.8) | -0.15 |
| 2017/18 | 73 | C- (25.1) | -0.07 |
| 2016/17 | 89 | C- (28.2) | -0.04 |
| 2015/16 | 76 | C- (27.2) | -0.13 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 38.8 | −0.7 |
| Further education | 3.7 | −1.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 11.2 | +1.3 |
| Employment | 27.6 | −0.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 14.2 | +1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 4.5 | +0.2 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Cowley International College on 10 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 10 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Oct 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
58% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (93 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 58%
- Positive
- 52%
- Replies
- 93
- 6% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 90% who raised concerns
based on 38 parents (41%) whose child was bullied
based on 28 parents (30%) with SEND