Stanley High School, Southport

In its own words: "Our school culture and values are child centred. All children should be considered as individuals. We want all children to feel safe and happy, and through this, students can learn, flourish and achieve long-term economic well-being. We promote strong positive relationships with adults and peers from transition into Stanley High School to the steps beyond Stanley High School."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a values-led school. Our mission is to ensure that every Stanley High School student is given the best opportunity and support to realise their full potential and develop those skills and qualities needed to make good choices and go on to lead happy and successful lives."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, athletics, basketball, badminton, dance, drama, choir and chess.

In 2026, pupils at Stanley High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Sefton and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Sefton and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 40.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.71: pupils made well 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 35.3, against 42.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 121 families put Stanley High School as their first choice and 233 named it as one of their preferences, for 137 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 Stanley High School are Meols Cop High School (2.1 miles, Attainment 8 42.9); Christ The King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre (3.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.8); Greenbank High School (3.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.9); and Birkdale High School (4.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.7).

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

Stanley High School is one of 9 schools run by Southport Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.4 in 2024/25.

165 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stanley High School (as of September 2025): 74% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 62% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (79%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (60%).

Of the 141 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 85% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

7.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Meols Cop Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marshside Road (near), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Stanley High School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 5th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165).

In 2024/25, Stanley High School issued 151 suspensions, 18.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Stanley High School are Marshside Primary School (0.4 miles), St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles), Larkfield Primary School (0.6 miles) and Churchtown Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.