Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 May 2026

This school is built on Christian virtues such as forgiveness, friendship and hope. Its pupils live out these virtues daily. This is reflected in the warm and respectful relationships that exist in the school. Pupils know that staff care about them, which helps them to feel safe. Pupils access a wide range of opportunities to further their personal development. These vary from sporting activities and music ensembles to caring for the school's therapy dog as a 'puppy prefect'. Pupils develop into young people who are well prepared for life in modern Britain. They understand fundamental British values, such as democracy and individual liberty. Pupils build a secure knowledge of the post-16 options open to them. They learn from visiting employers, colleges and training providers. Many pupils choose to stay on in the school’s sixth form, where they are supported well. Whether they leave at 16 or 18, pupils are ready to take their next steps into further education, employment or training. Pupils show highly positive attitudes to their learning. They focus in lessons, work hard and achieve well. Teachers work quickly to identify and support those who may face challenges that make learning more difficult. Effective support ensures that these pupils progress well. Pupils know what high standards are expected of them. They rise to these expectations through their positive conduct in lessons and at social times. Pupils are mature and manage their own behaviour well. They make the right choices, and older students act as role models for younger pupils. Unkindness or bullying rarely occur. If they do, pupils are confident that staff will deal with incidents quickly and effectively. Pupils' rates of attendance at school are high. When pupils face barriers to their attendance, leaders put in place helpful support.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that their chosen strategies to assess pupils’ knowledge and address their misconceptions are embedded consistently across all subjects and key stages.
• Leaders should focus on raising achievement for students in the sixth form by ensuring that learning activities continue to promote a greater depth of knowledge.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)