Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School, Skelmersdale
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 · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Our Lady Queen of Peace is working hard to transform itself into a supportive community where pupils feel valued and safe. The school excels at building strong relationships between staff and students, and has made excellent progress with reading support through targeted programs. The school is increasingly consistent in applying behavioral expectations, creating a calmer learning environment where pupils can thrive.
Key Strengths
- Staff build strong, supportive relationships with pupils, making most feel safe and happy at school
- Reading support is prioritized with effective tiered phonics and comprehension programs, plus a well-resourced library
- Behavioral standards are being applied more consistently, with most pupils behaving well in lessons and around school
- The interim executive board provides effective governance and strong systems to evaluate leadership actions
- Personal development program covers important topics including healthy relationships, British values, and careers guidance
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum implementation remains inconsistent across subjects, with teaching strategies not yet fully embedded in all areas
- Support for pupils with SEND is variable, meaning some struggle to access learning and fall behind
- Some parents feel the school doesn't communicate effectively about changes, particularly around staffing and behavior
- Persistent absenteeism among certain pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, hinders their learning
- Not all pupils achieve as well as they should due to inconsistent teaching quality
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils reporting they have adults to talk to about concerns and feeling safe at school.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, reading buddy programs, school council
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College in Skelmersdale has made notable improvements from its previous Inadequate rating, with pupils increasingly proud of the school and positive behavioral changes. However, the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all require improvement, with inconsistent curriculum delivery and attendance concerns remaining.
At a Glance
42.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
72 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
19.9
Avg class size
40
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
75%
Available places
786 pupils
1,047 capacity
261 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Skelmersdale
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Skelmersdale
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
14,786
Applications
13,820
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
96.8%
Secondary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History(11)
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
10.71879%
Overall absence
33.37041%
Persistent absence
899
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School
Cobbs Brow School
Crow Orchard Primary School
Trinity Church of England/Methodist School
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
St Edmund's Catholic Primary School
Brookfield Park Primary School
Kingsbury Primary Special School
Woodland Community Primary School
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Dalton St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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