Garstang Community Academy
Preston, PR3 1YE · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
52nd 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 885 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.0/10 among them, against 4.3/10 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 | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.8 · 55 | 30% | 1.65 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.3 · 27 | 25% | 0.68 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.0 · 44 | 10% | 0.44 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Garstang Community Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.3 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in July 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.8 out of 10 among them, against 4.2 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Shine Wellbeing Club, Duke of Edinburgh, History Club, Singing Club, Maths Past Paper Club, Badminton Club, DT Club, and Geography Exam Practice. Sports include football, rugby, and netball.
Getting in
The published school roll is 750 pupils against a stated capacity of 915. 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 actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating? How does the school ensure consistent progress for students in the similar-intake comparison group?
What Ofsted said about Garstang Community Academy
Overview
Garstang Community Academy requires improvement in all areas inspected, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management. The school has made some improvements, but there are still significant areas for improvement.
Strengths
- Pupils show a keen interest in learning and respond well to the school's raised expectations for their academic outcomes.
- Pupils are typically polite and show respect to staff and to each other.
- The school has worked with the trust to enhance the strategies used to tackle bullying, and pupils with SEND are able to access learning.
- The school offers a wide range of clubs and trips to expand pupils' interests.
- The school's personal, social, health, economic education (PSHE) curriculum has been successfully redesigned, and pupils develop a strong understanding of healthy lifestyles.
Areas to improve
- Assessment strategies are not used consistently well across different subjects, leading to misconceptions and gaps in subject knowledge that some pupils have.
- The new behaviour systems are not used consistently well by some staff, leading to poor behaviour that hinders the learning of others.
- Some pupils do not have confidence that their concerns about bullying will be resolved, leading to a lessening of their enjoyment of school.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.5 |
| 2024/25 | 44.8 |
| 2025/26 | 45.0 |
| 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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