West Hill School, Stalybridge

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades West Hill School on 6 areas: 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "School leaders and trustees hold a clear commitment to securing high attendance for every pupil."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Since the last inspection, there have been several changes to the leadership and governance of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have thought carefully about how best to nurture a sense of belonging among pupils."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Overall, many pupils achieve well in national examinations."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Some pupils' experiences of teaching are not consistent across the school."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders have not fully ensured that all pupils with additional needs receive consistent support."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers have the information, expertise and knowledge to adapt their teaching effectively. This will help to support pupils, including those who face barriers to their learning, to deepen their skills and knowledge across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment techniques effectively in order to check for gaps and misconceptions in pupils' understanding, including any gaps that pupils have in their foundational knowledge of reading, spelling, punctuation and handwriting skills".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We warmly welcome you and hope that our site encapsulates our values whilst offering information to and about our school community. As of September 2023, I am privileged to be the Headteacher at West Hill School, a school community that is rich in history whilst holding promise for the future of our young people."

In 2026, pupils at West Hill School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Tameside and 47 across England.

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Tameside and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 43.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.31: 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 39, against 45.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 201 families put West Hill School as their first choice and 413 named it as one of their preferences, for 161 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 49 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to West Hill School are All Saints Catholic College (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.5); Dixons Pennine Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38); Rayner Stephens High School (1.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 35.1); and Dixons Ashton Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.7).

West Hill School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Of the 160 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

5.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Asian (14%).

The nearest railway station is Stalybridge Rail Station, about 300 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ridge Hill Lane (near), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood West Hill School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, West Hill School issued 168 suspensions, 19.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to West Hill School are Dixons Silver Springs Primary (0.4 miles); Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles); St. Peter's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles); and Inspire Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.