Wade Deacon High School, Widnes

In its own words: "At Wade Deacon High School, we stand proudly on centuries of heritage, tracing our roots all the way back to 1507. It was then that Bishop William Smyth established the original grammar school, envisioning a future where education would flourish in our community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is both a privilege and a pleasure to serve as Executive Principal of Wade Deacon High School, a school with a long-standing reputation for excellence, ambition and strong community values."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include coding and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Wade Deacon High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 40.1 in Halton and 47 across England.

54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 34% in Halton and 47% in England.

That is down from 54 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.17: 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 36.8, against 53.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and French.

For September 2026 entry, 393 families put Wade Deacon High School as their first choice and 735 named it as one of their preferences, for 343 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 52 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Wade Deacon High School are Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.9); Ormiston Chadwick Academy (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 37); Rainhill High School (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.3); and The Grange School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36).

Wade Deacon High School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Wade Deacon High School is one of 10 schools run by Wade Deacon Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.5 in 2024/25.

Of the 308 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 83% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

5.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 171 pupils (10.3%) received SEN support and 47 (2.8%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Widnes Rail Station, about 380 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wade Deacon, 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 258 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Halton (166), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Wade Deacon High School issued 148 suspensions, 9.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Wade Deacon High School are St Bede's Catholic Junior School (0.3 miles), St Bede's Catholic Infant School (0.3 miles), Fairfield Primary School (0.4 miles) and Kingsway Primary Academy School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.