Bowland High
Riversmead, Sawley Road, Grindleton, Clitheroe, BB7 4QSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Bowland High is a secondary school in Clitheroe for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. It ranks 30th of 81 secondary schools in Lancashire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 December 2022, report published 1 February 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 December 2022
Pupils at Bowland High enjoy coming to school. Leaders have high expectations of all pupils and routinely remind them to follow 'The Bowland Way'. This means that most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are motivated to achieve well and attend school regularly. Most pupils meet staff's high expectations of behaviour in lessons. They are generally polite and well mannered. Most pupils follow the school routines and respect their teachers. Leaders deal quickly and effectively with bullying incidents. The positive relationships that teachers have fostered with pupils mean that they know who to turn to if they have concerns or any worries. This makes pupils feel happy and safe in school. Pupils really enjoy attending clubs and activities outside the academic curriculum. Many pupils complete The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and participate in competitions and local events. They particularly enjoy performing arts, sports and the school choir. They have access to a range of international experiences, from skiing and water sports to historical visits. Leaders give all pupils opportunities to discuss careers and their future regularly. Pupils have access to the careers library and are able to participate in activities on 'Future Fridays' and college networking. As a result, they are extremely well informed about their next steps.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, teachers do not use suitable assessment strategies to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge. Nor do they address misconceptions effectively. Leaders should ensure that teachers are well equipped to spot, and then tackle, pupils' misconceptions before deciding what they need to learn next.
- Leaders and staff do not have consistently high expectations of pupils' behaviour at social times. As a result, some pupils do not behave as well as they should. Leaders should ensure that staff apply the behaviour policy consistently well and help pupils to manage their behaviour outside of the classroom.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
108 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
644 pupils on roll, with places for 575
Schools near Bowland High
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clitheroe Royal Grammar School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 74.4 |
| Ribblesdale School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Attainment 8: 43.5 |
| Oakhill School | 6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 55.1 |
| Stonyhurst College | 7 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 29.5 |
| West Craven High School | 7 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 37.4 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH COLLABORATION TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Laura Fielden
- Phone
- 01200441374
- Address
- Riversmead, Sawley Road, Grindleton, Clitheroe, BB7 4QS
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- URN
- 136997
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.