Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School
Accrington, BB5 4AY · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
39th 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 the 738 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.3/10 among them, against 5.8/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 18 | 35% | 0.63 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 56.4 · 76 | 30% | 2.28 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.26 · 30 | 25% | 0.76 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.5 · 72 | 10% | 0.72 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 59.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.26 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.2 out of 10 among them, against 6.1 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Bookflix, Craft Club, Creative Writing, Mind Sports, Junior Choir, Science Café, Computing Club, and Senior Vocals Choir. Sports include Athletics, Golf, Cricket, Rounders, Judo, and Running. Arts and music options cover Art, Wind Band, SATB Choir, Jazz Band, Cantores, Criss-Cross Dance, Photography, and GCSE Art. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,280 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,280. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is
What Ofsted said about Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are "well prepared for life in modern Britain" and demonstrate "highly positive attitudes to their learning." Leaders have established a "warm and respectful" environment built on Christian virtues, resulting in high attendance and strong pupil wellbeing. While most areas meet the expected standard, attendance and behaviour are rated at a strong standard.
Strengths
- Attendance rates are sustained "above the national average," with leaders responding swiftly to barriers.
- A "respectful culture" is embedded, with bullying and unkind behaviour being "rare."
- Pupils achieve well, gaining qualifications needed for "ambitious next steps," with attainment above the national average in many subjects.
- Staff morale is high, with a valued "family feel" and effective support for staff workload and wellbeing.
- Personal development is supported by an "ambitious" programme including sports, music, and leadership roles.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure strategies to assess knowledge and address misconceptions are "embedded consistently across all subjects."
- Leaders should focus on raising sixth form achievement by ensuring learning activities promote "greater depth of knowledge."
- Interventions for numeracy are noted as "less well developed" than those for literacy.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.5 |
| 2024/25 | 50.7 |
| 2025/26 | 50.5 |
| 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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