The Grange School
Runcorn, WA7 5DX · Halton · all-through school
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6th of 8 secondary schools in Halton 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 — 1.7/10 against 279 of them, against 0.7/10 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 | 34% | 1.79 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.4 · 9 | 30% | 0.28 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.84 · 5 | 25% | 0.13 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.0 · 7 | 10% | 0.07 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Grange School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022. In 2024/25, 23.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.84 in 2023/24, indicating pupils made less progress than those nationally starting from the same point. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (1.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,200 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,320. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about The Grange School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are proud to be part of a ‘respectful community’ that is ‘accepting of anyone’. Leaders have designed a ‘suitably broad and ambitious curriculum’ that ensures children and pupils, including those with special educational needs, achieve well. The inspection highlights strong relationships between staff and pupils, effective safeguarding, and a culture where high expectations drive success.
Strengths
- Pupils feel ‘happy and safe’ due to trusting relationships with staff and a clear stance that bullying ‘will not be tolerated’.
- The curriculum is well-designed, with an ‘increasing proportion of pupils’ studying the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects.
- Early reading is taught consistently well, with books ‘matched closely to their phonics knowledge’ to develop fluency.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive ‘effective support from highly skilled staff’ and ‘achieve particularly well’.
- Governors are ‘highly knowledgeable’ and provide appropriate challenge and support to leaders.
Areas to improve
- Some teachers ‘lack the subject-specific expertise and confidence’ to select appropriate pedagogical approaches, hindering pupil progress.
- Assessment systems are not always used ‘sufficiently well to single out pupils’ missing component knowledge’, hampering efforts to overcome misunderstandings.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and remaining ‘vigilant to the signs that may indicate a pupil is at risk of harm’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 33.5 |
| 2024/25 | 36.4 |
| 2025/26 | 36.0 |
| 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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