Fulwood Academy, Preston

In its own words: "To promote a culture of educational excellence, kindness and respect within our school and wider community. Where pupils and staff care about learning and each other, are committed to being their best and together confidently challenge barriers to learning. This is underpinned by our values; We Care, We Challenge, We Commit and our Fundamental British Values."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Fulwood we put the progress and wellbeing of our pupils at the centre of everything we do. We believe that a strong academic ethos combined with an excellent pastoral system are the keys to the success of our pupils. The staff here are committed to providing excellent experiences both in and beyond the classroom."

In 2026, pupils at Fulwood Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is up from 41.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.37: pupils made below 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 37.2, against 48.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Multimedia.

For September 2026 entry, 138 families put Fulwood Academy as their first choice and 456 named it as one of their preferences, for 197 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Fulwood Academy are Our Lady's Catholic High School (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.9); Corpus Christi Catholic High School (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.1); Lancashire Education Medical Services (0.7 miles); and Archbishop Temple Church of England High School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 56.9).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Fulwood Academy.

Fulwood Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 135 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 73% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 42% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.

43% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 44.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Asian (25%) and Black (12%).

In 2026, 149 pupils (15.3%) received SEN support and 21 (2.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fulwood Academy (by), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Fulwood Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Fulwood Academy issued 31 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Fulwood Academy are Queen's Drive Primary School (0.1 miles); Fulwood and Cadley Primary School (0.4 miles); St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Preston (0.5 miles); and Harris Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.