Best Secondary Schools in Lancashire 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 79 schools across Lancashire. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Lancashire has 79 open secondary schools. Of the 79 with a published Ofsted inspection, 7 (9%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 71% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Lancashire follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

79
Total schools
7
Outstanding (historic grade)
9%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
61%
Avg KS2 SATs
37.4
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 Lancaster Girls' Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
🥉 Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
4. Broughton High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 84 View school
5. Lytham St Annes High School
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
6. Preston Muslim Girls High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 80 View school
7. All Hallows Catholic High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 80 View school
8. Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy
Secondary
 Good 77 View school
9. St Michael's Church of England High School
Secondary
 Good 76 View school
10. Penwortham Girls' High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
11. Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 73 View school
12. Eden Boys' School, Preston
Secondary
 Outstanding 72 View school
13. Holy Cross Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 71 View school
14. Balshaw's Church of England High School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
15. Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
Secondary
 Inadequate 68 View school
16. Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
17. Whitworth Community High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
18. Hutton Church of England Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
19. Our Lady's Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
20. Hodgson Academy
Secondary
 Good 64 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Lancashire

Best primary schools in LancashireTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in LancashireTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in LancashirePrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in LancashireReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Blackburn with DarwenCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BoltonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BlackpoolCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WiganCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Lancashire?
There are 79 open secondary schools in Lancashire (closed schools are excluded). 7 of the 79 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Lancashire?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Lancashire is Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Lancashire?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Lancashire?
Primary and secondary applications in Lancashire are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Lancashire council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.