Rainhill High School
Prescot, L35 6NY · St. Helens · secondary school
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1st of 9 secondary schools in St. Helens we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 820 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.0/10 among them, against 5.7/10 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 | 51.4 · 66 | 30% | 1.97 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.12 · 41 | 25% | 1.03 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.3 · 71 | 10% | 0.71 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Rainhill High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 40.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.12 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 1.7 out of 10 among them, against 4.3 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in April 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join rugby, football, badminton, dodgeball, and netball teams, or participate in drama and theatre studies.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,535 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,550. 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 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Rainhill High School
Overview
Rainhill High School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking an improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement. The report highlights that leaders have raised expectations, resulting in an ‘ambitious subject curriculum’ where pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well. Pupils are described as respectful and kind, contributing to a happy and safe school environment.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘suitably ambitious’, with changes to key stage 3 ensuring pupils learn subjects in ‘sufficient depth’.
- Teachers use assessment strategies ‘skilfully’ to identify misconceptions and address misunderstandings quickly.
- Staff are ‘knowledgeable about their subjects’ and provide clear explanations, helping pupils build strong links with new content.
- Leaders have strengthened systems to identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively.
- Pupils benefit from a ‘well-planned programme of careers advice and guidance’ and learn about tolerance and respect for others.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, some teachers lack the confidence to deliver aspects of the curriculum, hindering some pupils’ learning.
- A small proportion of pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, do not attend school regularly, missing out on important learning.
- Governors and trustees do not have sufficient oversight of the quality of education for students in the off-site sixth-form provision.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with staff receiving regular training and leaders working closely with external partners to ensure vulnerable pupils receive timely help.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.3 |
| 2024/25 | 45.9 |
| 2025/26 | 50.3 |
| 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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