Southlands High School, Chorley

Ofsted's report card from its 22 September 2026 inspection grades Southlands High School on 6 areas: 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Published data does not fully reflect the gains that current pupils are making in their learning."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have prioritised improving pupils' attendance over recent years."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff work collaboratively to sustain a positive culture where pupils feel included."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "In recent years, leaders' drive to do more for pupils at Southlands High School has instilled a renewed sense of ambition and pride across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that all pupils benefit from a comprehensive and relevant personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment information consistently well when making decisions about what pupils learn next"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers provide sufficient opportunities for pupils to use and apply the knowledge that they are learning in lessons"; "Leaders should refine their approaches to support pupils to continue to strengthen their attendance, including the attendance of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure they have a more detailed and insightful understanding of the impact of the school's work to promote inclusion and pupils' personal development to further enhance pupils' experiences".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher of this vibrant and energetic school community. At Southlands students develop academically acquiring the knowledge and skills which will equip them for their future. This is achieved as students are immersed in a rich curriculum delivered through engaging lessons. Students also develop their character through the enrichment and personal development programmes."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Southlands High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.49: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 29.5, against 44.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.

For September 2026 entry, 73 families put Southlands High School as their first choice and 210 named it as one of their preferences, for 123 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Southlands High School are Holy Cross Catholic High School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.4); Parklands High School (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 49.1); Albany Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.1); and St Michael's Church of England High School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 60.6).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Southlands High School.

Southlands High School is one of 3 schools run by Mosaic Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 162 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 75% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 51 pupils (6.2%) received SEN support and 18 (2.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Chorley Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Liptrott Road (opposite), 280 metres away.

In 2024/25, Southlands High School issued 674 suspensions, 72.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Southlands High School are Chorley All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery Unit (0.4 miles); Gillibrand Primary School (0.4 miles); St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Chorley (0.6 miles); and St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.