Cowley International College, St Helens
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school is rapidly improving under committed new leadership with real focus on pupil wellbeing and safety. Pupils feel happy and supported, with a strong pastoral team and wellbeing support available when needed. The school offers a broad curriculum including vocational options, outdoor activities and work experience to help young people prepare for their future.
Key Strengths
- Strong leadership commitment to improvement with clear vision and strategic actions
- Effective safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and know who to turn to for support
- Ambitious personal development curriculum covering mental health, relationships and life skills
- Improved behaviour and attendance through new whole-school approaches
- Broad curriculum including academic and vocational pathways with flexible options
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent teaching quality means pupils don't progress evenly through subjects
- Gaps in pupils' knowledge, particularly in writing and basic English and mathematics
- Achievement in national tests remains below national average
- Post-16 teaching inconsistencies affecting A level outcomes
- Provision for pupils with additional needs not consistently applied across school
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open, positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, outdoor residential activities, dance club, sports club, Mandarin club, museum and zoo trips, work experience placements, performing arts, sports, driving taster lessons, mentoring roles
Cowley International College is undergoing rapid improvement under new leadership, with early positive impacts on attendance, behaviour and classroom practice. The school meets safeguarding standards and has a clear focus on pupil wellbeing and personal development.
At a Glance
37.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
18.3
Avg class size
72
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
1,514 pupils
1,620 capacity
106 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - St Helens
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for St Helens
Admissions Demand - St. Helens
Places available
2,109
Applications
1,879
Got 1st preference
96.9%
Got preferred school
99.5%
Secondary admissions across St. Helens (2025/26)
Inspection History(9)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.63479%
Overall absence
30.10085%
Persistent absence
1,289
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cowley International College
Rivington Primary School
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School
St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School
Bleak Hill Primary School
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Devon Street
Parish Church of England Primary School, St Helens
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School
St Julie's Catholic Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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