Great Sankey High School
Barrow Hall Lane, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3AAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Great Sankey High School is a secondary school in Warrington for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 92 schools in Warrington. It ranks 6th of 14 secondary schools in Warrington. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 20 September 2017, report published 17 October 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 28 March 2023
Pupils, and students in the sixth form, spoke positively about their time at Great Sankey High School. Relationships between pupils and staff are respectful and caring. Pupils said that bullying is not tolerated and, that when it does happen, it is dealt with well. Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe and happy in school. Recently, leaders have transformed the culture in school by raising staff's expectations of pupils' behaviour. The vast majority of pupils strive to live up to these expectations. There are clear and consistent routines in place which contribute to the calm atmosphere in classrooms. Leaders expect pupils to succeed. Pupils, including those in the sixth form, benefit from a well-thought-out curriculum. Pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well. Leaders provide pupils with a range of wide and diverse experiences to enhance their learning of the curriculum. For example, pupils spoke excitedly about the upcoming trips to Galway and Belfast, as part of a combined leadership programme. Leaders foster pupils' community spirit. For instance, pupils described how they took part in a recent commemorative service for the victims of the Warrington bombing. This helped pupils to collectively remember members of their community who died.
What the school should improve
- On occasion, some teachers do not identify pupils' misconceptions quickly enough. As a result, from time to time, some pupils develop gaps in their learning. Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment information effectively to quickly identify and address any gaps in pupils' knowledge.
- Some aspects of leaders' work to improve pupils' behaviour are relatively new. A small number of pupils do not behave as well as they should during social times. Leaders should ensure that staff implement behaviour strategies equally well outside of lessons so that these pupils are supported to improve their behaviour.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
371 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
100 students
Average A level grade B-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
2,051 pupils on roll, with places for 2,175
Schools near Great Sankey High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penketh High School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.5 |
| St Gregory's Catholic High School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.0 |
| Aldridge UTC Warrington | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Attainment 8: 23.0 |
| Beamont Collegiate Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.8 |
| St. Cuthbert's Catholic Academy | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- OMEGA MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Dan Whieldon
- Phone
- 01925724118
- Address
- Barrow Hall Lane, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3AA
- Local authority
- Warrington
- URN
- 139152
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.