Shaftesbury High School, Chorley
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Shaftesbury High School specialises in giving pupils a fresh start. Staff know each pupil extremely well and treat them with genuine respect and kindness, which builds confidence and self-esteem - for many pupils, this is their first positive school experience. The school combines academic learning with hands-on vocational training and ensures pupils leave with qualifications and clear pathways to college, apprenticeships or employment that match their goals.
Key Strengths
- Staff treat pupils with respect and kindness, helping them feel valued and safe - this is often their first successful school experience
- Broad, ambitious curriculum with vocational opportunities (plumbing, motor mechanics, equine care) that matches pupils' aspirations
- Strong support for pupils with additional needs and disabilities, with effective strategies to identify and adapt support
- Excellent preparation for next steps with strong careers advice - most pupils progress to college or training courses
- Effective behaviour management with calm, positive approach; pupils' attendance improves after joining
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always check quickly enough what pupils have learned, especially those with low attendance, so gaps in knowledge can be missed
- Reading support programme is new and systems to monitor its impact are underdeveloped - some weaker readers don't get timely help
- Teachers sometimes don't give pupils clear expectations about what they need to do
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with strong systems in place to identify and support vulnerable pupils.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, vocational training in plumbing and motor mechanics and equine care, therapy dog support, work-related learning
Shaftesbury High School is a pupil referral unit that provides secondary education for pupils who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of exclusion. The school has maintained good standards and effectively supports pupils to get back on track with their learning.
At a Glance
61.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
106 pupils
130 capacity
24 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Chorley
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chorley
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(107)
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.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Shaftesbury High School
St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Chorley
Chorley All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery Unit
Duke Street Primary School
Gillibrand Primary School
St George's Church of England Primary School, Chorley
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Chorley
St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley
Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School
Highfield Community Primary School
Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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