Larches High School, Preston
Larches High School is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Preston. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Larches High School in detail
Larches High School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and gardening.
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 41 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 29% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college, 10% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.
Who goes there
75.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%), Asian (9%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 86 pupils (81.1%) received SEN support and 20 (18.9%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Football Ground (opposite), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Larches High School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 546 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
75.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Latest from Larches High School
Drowning Prevention - Stay safe near water from The Lancashire Water Safety Partnership
17 Jul 2026
Lancashire Fire & Rescue - Lithium Battery Safety
16 Jul 2026
Free School Meal - Eligibility Changes
1 Jul 2026
HAF Summer Activities 2026
18 Jun 2026
Water Safety - Important Message
3 Jun 2026
Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Update
20 May 2026
From Larches High School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Larches High School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Larches High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Larches High School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 41
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 29 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Preston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Preston
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
86
SEN Support
20
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
106
Total Pupils
63
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
5.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,193
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Larches High School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Larches High School
What is Larches High School's Ofsted rating?
Larches High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Larches High School?
No fixed boundary. When Larches High School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Larches High School?
Larches High School has around 106 pupils on roll. 76% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Larches High School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Larches High School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Larches High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 29 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Larches High School?
Larches High School is at Moor Park, Preston, PR1 6AA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)