Schools by area › Lancashire › Penwortham Priory Academy
Penwortham Priory Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Crow Hills Road, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0JE · priory.lancs.sch.uk · 01772 320250
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2020
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Lancashire 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 745
- 99% of 750 places
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 24.7%
- First language not English
- 5.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 164 families put the school first and 151 places were offered; 85% 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 | 151 | 164 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 150 | 153 | 1▲ | 88% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 149 | 139 | 0.9 | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 149 | 150 | 1▲ | 89% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 148 | 169 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.2, and 38.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Lancashire it was 45.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼38.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼60.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼14.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.73 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 2 | −1.4 |
| Sixth form college | 30.9 | +6.7 |
| Further education | 44.7 | −3 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.9 | −1.5 |
| Employment | 3.9 | +0.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.6 | −4.2 |
| Activity not captured | 3.9 | +3.2 |
Ofsted
Penwortham Priory Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 3 March 2020, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in Mar 2025 found: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 25 Mar 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2020Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
- Dec 2018Monitoring visitEffective action
Jul 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Nov 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
89% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (161 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 89%
- Replies
- 161
- 22% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 73% who raised concerns
based on the 40% who had a child bullied
based on 39 parents (24%) with SEND