Tarleton Academy, Preston

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Tarleton Academy, we are proud to welcome you to a community where every student is encouraged to ignite excellence and empower their individuality. Whether you're just starting your journey with us or returning for another year, we are excited to have you as part of our school."

In 2026, pupils at Tarleton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.28: pupils made above 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 38.6, against 43.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Design and Technology.

For September 2026 entry, 129 families put Tarleton Academy as their first choice and 304 named it as one of their preferences, for 137 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Tarleton Academy are Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 56.2); Hutton Church of England Grammar School (4.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.5); All Hallows Catholic High School (5.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 53.6); and Penwortham Priory Academy (5.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Tarleton Academy.

Tarleton Academy is one of 11 schools run by Endeavour Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.9 in 2024/25.

Of the 133 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 61% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 138 pupils (20.5%) received SEN support and 12 (1.8%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Croston Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High School (outside), 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Tarleton Academy stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

In 2024/25, Tarleton Academy issued 178 suspensions, 26.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Tarleton Academy are Tarleton Community Primary School (0.5 miles), Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary School (0.5 miles), Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School (0.9 miles) and Bretherton Endowed Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.