Shaftesbury High School, Chorley
Shaftesbury High School is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Chorley. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Shaftesbury High School in detail
Shaftesbury High School in its own words
In its own words: "Shaftesbury High School strives to provide a caring, structured learning environment in which all pupils can develop academically, socially, emotionally and morally to their full potential and in which pupils and staff feel safe, secure and valued. All pupils, without regard to age, aptitude, attainment level, ability or social circumstances, are entitled to an education of the highest quality."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shaftesbury High School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 73% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 37 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 30% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 14% into work.
Who goes there
61.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 46 pupils (43.4%) received SEN support and 9 (8.5%) 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 Chorley Rail Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Firemans Lane (by), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Shaftesbury High School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 241 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
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, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Social & online
Keep up with Shaftesbury High School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Shaftesbury High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Shaftesbury 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
- 18
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
3 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
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
106 pupils
130 places
24 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Chorley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chorley
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(7)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
46
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
51.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
106
Total Pupils
68
Boys
38
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,567
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Shaftesbury High School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Shaftesbury High School
What is Shaftesbury High School's Ofsted rating?
Shaftesbury High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Shaftesbury High School?
No fixed boundary. When Shaftesbury High School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Shaftesbury High School?
Shaftesbury High School has around 106 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Shaftesbury High School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Shaftesbury 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 Shaftesbury High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 3 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 Shaftesbury High School?
Shaftesbury High School is at Weldbank Lane, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 3NQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)