Schools by area › St. Helens › Rainford High School
Rainford High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Higher Lane, Rainford, St Helens WA11 8NY · rainford.org.uk · 01744 885914
On the mapSearch near WA11 8NY
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50.6
- average Attainment 8 score. St. Helens 41.8, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,646
- 100% of 1,650 places
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16%
- First language not English
- 1.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 312 families put the school first and 258 places were offered; 82% 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 | 258 | 312 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 263 | 323 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 270 | 320 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 275 | 340 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 267 | 322 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.6, and 56.2% 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 (28.7 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50.6 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲56.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲78.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲47.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.43 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 104826)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 32.2 | −9.7 |
| Sixth form college | 27.7 | +0.4 |
| Further education | 26.3 | +10.4 |
| Other education | 2.1 | +1.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.8 | +2.7 |
| Employment | 2.1 | −1.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.2 | −3.1 |
| Activity not captured | 0.7 | −0.7 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 students | C (28.7) | Below average -0.26 | |
| 96 students | C (28.9) | Below average -0.24 | |
| 92 students | Merit+ (29.1) | Above average +0.27 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 92 | C+ (32.3) | -0.21 |
| 2022/23 | 54 | C (31.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 77 | B (38.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 85 | C+ (32.7) | -0.10 |
| 2017/18 | 115 | C+ (32.1) | -0.17 |
| 2016/17 | 103 | C- (28.1) | -0.16 |
| 2015/16 | 109 | C (29.4) | -0.16 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 48.7 | −8.4 |
| Further education | 1.7 | −3.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 9.2 | −0.3 |
| Employment | 26.9 | +8.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 12.6 | +3.1 |
| Activity not captured | 0.8 | −0.2 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Rainford High School on 13 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 13 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Sept 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Feb 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (189 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 88%
- Positive
- 84%
- Replies
- 189
- 11% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 87% who raised concerns
based on 51 parents (27%) whose child was bullied
based on 87 parents (46%) with SEND