Parklands High School
Chorley, PR7 1LL · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
21st 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 — 7.3/10 against 873 of them, against 6.1/10 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 | 43.1 · 45 | 30% | 1.35 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.39 · 78 | 25% | 1.96 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.1 · 66 | 10% | 0.66 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Parklands High School overview
How it's doing
Parklands High School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023. In 2024/25, 34.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.39 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,102 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,116. 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
Since the last inspection was in 2023, what improvements have been made to raise Attainment 8 above the national median? How does the school support pupils to achieve the higher Progress 8 scores seen in similar-intake comparisons?
What Ofsted said about Parklands High School
Overview
Parklands High School continues to be a good school, providing a welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and cared for. Leaders maintain high expectations, resulting in a calm and purposeful atmosphere where pupils are polite, courteous, and achieve highly. The school offers a broad, ambitious curriculum and strong pastoral support, ensuring pupils are well-prepared for their next steps in education or training.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy attending the school, benefiting from mixed-age tutor groups that foster positive interactions across different age ranges.
- Leaders have designed a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with careful sequencing, helping pupils understand how their learning links together.
- Staff frequently and skilfully check pupils’ knowledge, acting promptly to address any gaps in understanding.
- Reading is prioritised through daily sessions and targeted programmes, enabling pupils with gaps in reading knowledge to "catch up quickly".
- Pupils develop talents through a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including chess, musical theatre, and rewilding clubs.
Areas to improve
- A few teachers are less secure in adapting curriculum delivery for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), which hinders some pupils from achieving as highly as they could. Leaders should ensure all staff are fully equipped to support these pupils.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders maintaining a robust approach, providing comprehensive staff training, and working closely with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.8 |
| 2024/25 | 44.4 |
| 2025/26 | 49.1 |
| 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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