Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School
Preston, PR5 6PB · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
37th 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 913 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.3/10 among them, against 4.1/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.4 · 31 | 30% | 0.92 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.03 · 52 | 25% | 1.31 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.4 · 41 | 10% | 0.41 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 40.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.03 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh award, play football, netball, or trampolining, and visit the USA, Iceland, Edinburgh, Rome, Spain, or a ski resort. They also experience a World War 2 trench simulation and attend the TeenTech Festival at UCLan.
Getting in
The published school roll is 772 pupils against a stated capacity of 800. 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
With 28 places currently spare, how does the school manage class sizes for new intakes? How does the curriculum support pupils to raise their Progress 8 scores further? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths
What Ofsted said about Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School
Overview
Brownedge St Mary’s Catholic High School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. The school is described as having a ‘family feel’ where pupils feel valued, safe, and included within a culture of genuine warmth and respect. Leaders have successfully redesigned the curriculum to be ambitious for all pupils, fostering high expectations for behaviour and achievement.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from an ‘inclusive ethos’ and strong relationships with staff, feeling they ‘don’t have to be afraid to be yourself here’.
- The curriculum is ‘ambitious for all pupils’, providing clarity on knowledge and supporting a broad base in key stage 3.
- Teachers deliver the curriculum adeptly, explaining concepts clearly and breaking tasks into manageable steps.
- There is a ‘renewed priority’ on reading, with expert support helping pupils who are not reading as well as they should to catch up quickly.
- The school’s work on personal development is a ‘tangible strength’, with a ‘meticulously designed programme’ of spiritual, moral and cultural opportunities.
Areas to improve
- The school should strengthen staff expertise in identifying and remedying pupils’ misconceptions before they become embedded, as some assessment strategies are not yet effective enough.
- In some subjects, checks on pupils’ understanding are not effective enough, meaning teaching sometimes moves on before pupils are ready and errors go unresolved.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.1 |
| 2024/25 | 46.1 |
| 2025/26 | 44.4 |
| 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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