Christ The King Catholic High School
Preston, PR1 4PR · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
68th 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 — 5.3/10 against 365 of them, against 3.0/10 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 | 37.8 · 32 | 45% | 1.44 |
| Ofsted | 1 | 40% | 0.03 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.0 · 24 | 15% | 0.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Christ The King Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Inadequate by Ofsted in July 2026. In 2024/25, 20.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 446 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. 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 plan to address the Inadequate rating following the 2026 inspection? What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Christ The King Catholic High School
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have made "tangible improvements" to previously weak areas, creating a "calm and orderly environment" where pupils feel safe and valued. However, inconsistencies in teaching and high absence rates mean that recent exam results were "considerably below the national average," with some pupils leaving with significant knowledge gaps.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Leaders provide effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, using pupil profiles to tailor help.
- Staff are highly valued, with a professional development programme that improves practice and supports wellbeing.
- Pupils benefit from a broad personal development programme, including leadership roles, clubs, and trips that broaden their horizons.
- Positive relationships exist between staff and pupils, with bullying tackled quickly and effectively.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teaching strategies are consistently embedded so pupils learn the curriculum well and close gaps in foundational numeracy and literacy.
- Assessment information must be used consistently to address misconceptions and support future learning.
- Effective strategies to reduce barriers to attendance must be implemented consistently to improve overall attendance rates.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 35.9 |
| 2025/26 | 41.0 |
| 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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