Rayner Stephens High School, Dukinfield
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Rayner Stephens has made impressive progress in getting pupils to attend school regularly through caring pastoral support - even visiting homes or bringing pupils in when needed. The school is genuinely welcoming and inclusive, with strong support for pupils with additional needs and disadvantaged families. Staff treat pupils with respect and create calm classrooms where bullying is rare.
Key Strengths
- Attendance rates have improved dramatically through enhanced pastoral care and support for struggling pupils
- Safeguarding is strong with an open culture where bullying is rare and dealt with quickly
- Excellent support for pupils with special needs and disadvantaged pupils, helping them access the curriculum
- Wide range of enrichment activities and trips that broaden pupils' experiences
- Calm lessons with minimal disruption and respectful relationships between pupils and staff
Areas for Improvement
- Exam results at the end of Year 11 are too low, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs
- Teachers do not always use assessment information effectively to address gaps in pupils' knowledge
- Work produced by pupils lacks depth and complexity - they remember facts but don't develop deep understanding
- Teaching support is inconsistent, meaning some pupils struggle to complete tasks and understand lessons
- Tasks set by teachers do not always match the ambition of the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, trips to Houses of Parliament, musical instrument lessons, animal therapy, work experience, guest speakers, careers guidance with mock interviews
Rayner Stephens High School is a welcoming school where attendance and behavior have improved significantly through strong pastoral support. However, pupils' exam results remain too low and teaching does not consistently deepen their understanding of key topics.
At a Glance
47.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
22.6
Avg class size
27
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
76%
Available places
635 pupils
831 capacity
196 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Dukinfield
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dukinfield
Admissions Demand - Tameside
Places available
3,224
Applications
2,730
Got 1st preference
84.6%
Got preferred school
95.5%
Secondary admissions across Tameside (2025/26)
Inspection History(102)
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
13.08561%
Overall absence
36.49425%
Persistent absence
696
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
Rayner Stephens High School
Yew Tree Primary School
Oakdale School
St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Oakfield Primary and Moderate Learning Difficulties Resource Provision
Bradley Green Primary Academy
St John's CofE Primary School, Dukinfield
Broadbent Fold Primary School and Nursery
Flowery Field Primary School
St. Paul's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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