Ashton Community Science College, Preston

In its own words: "I am privileged to lead our well established community school and to work with our enthusiastic students, ambitious staff, supportive parents and committed governors. At Ashton, we are incredibly proud of our school and its successes. We make no secret of striving for excellence in every aspect of school life for all our students."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, basketball, badminton, running, drama, guitar, chess and Lego.

In 2026, pupils at Ashton Community Science College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is up from 44.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.07: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40.9, against 51.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 173 families put Ashton Community Science College as their first choice and 355 named it as one of their preferences, for 169 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 15 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ashton Community Science College are Our Lady's Catholic High School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.9); Penwortham Priory Academy (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47); Fulwood Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.8); and Penwortham Girls' High School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.4).

Ashton Community Science College's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 151 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 72% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 9% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

36.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 11.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 113 pupils (13.5%) received SEN support and 54 (6.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Ashton Community Science College has a resourced provision (20 places, 13 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (16 places, 11 pupils on roll) for hearing impairment and speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lichfield Road (opposite), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 209 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ashton Community Science College issued 79 suspensions, 9.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ashton Community Science College are Ashton Primary School (0.3 miles), Lea Community Primary School (0.5 miles), Ashton-on-Ribble St Andrew's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles) and Ingol Community Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.