Accrington Academy
Accrington, BB5 4FF · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
64th of 82 secondary schools in Lancashire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.4/10 against 492 of them, against 2.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.0 · 30 | 46% | 1.38 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.62 · 11 | 38% | 0.42 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.8 · 19 | 15% | 0.29 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Accrington Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.62 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 953 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,150. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Accrington Academy
Overview
Most pupils enjoy attending Accrington Academy and benefit from recent improvements to behaviour and attendance. However, the quality of education is inconsistent, with considerable variability in curriculum delivery meaning pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and sixth-form students, do not learn as well as they should.
Strengths
- Pupils are "kind and considerate" and forge positive relationships with staff.
- Most pupils feel safe and have a "trusted adult to speak with," with staff responding promptly to concerns.
- The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities and visits, including trips abroad.
- Staff feel well supported with their workload and well-being.
- Early-stage readers receive effective support to become fluent.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must design learning activities that sufficiently cover key curriculum content to help pupils achieve well.
- Assessment strategies need to be used effectively so pupils can recall previous learning and build knowledge successfully.
- Quality assurance systems require review to provide a detailed picture of strengths and weaknesses in education quality.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.7 |
| 2024/25 | 39.4 |
| 2025/26 | 39.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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