Rayner Stephens High School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 16
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard

Yew Tree Lane, Dukinfield, SK16 5BLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Rayner Stephens High School is a secondary school in Dukinfield for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 109 schools in Tameside. It ranks 11th of 13 secondary schools in Tameside. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in April 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 21 April 2026, report published 22 June 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Expected standard
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 April 2026

Pupils benefit from the school's increasingly high expectations of their learning and their conduct. Lessons are rarely disrupted and corridors are calm. Most pupils behave respectfully and are supportive of one another. Pupils are safe and trust that staff will deal with any issues that arise. Pupils build positive relationships with staff and find comfort in their support and guidance. Bullying is rare. When it does happen, pupils trust that staff will deal with it effectively. Pupils understand the importance of high attendance. Those who face barriers to regular attendance benefit from the school's support. This helps them to attend school more frequently than in the past. Pupils also benefit from a well-planned curriculum and suitably structured lessons. They learn important knowledge and most pupils take their learning seriously. Those who face barriers to their learning, such as pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, generally benefit from the support that staff provide. However, some pupils do not get the specific help that they need in lessons. Pupils sometimes do not experience teaching which deepens their understanding of key topics. This means that they do not achieve as well as they could, particularly in national examinations. Pupils appreciate the wide range of opportunities that are open to them. For example, they speak fondly of visiting the Houses of Parliament and completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Pupils are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities. Support to reduce any barriers to their participation is put in place when needed.

What the school should improve

  • Leaders should ensure that high-quality teaching is embedded across the school so that pupils progress through the curriculum and achieve well at the end of key stage 4.
  • Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment to effectively close gaps in pupils' knowledge.
  • Leaders should continue to promote the importance of attendance so that recent improvements in pupils' attendance rates are sustained.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

142 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score35.6

35.6, 10.5 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths29.6%

29.6%, 15.8 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths46.5%

46.5%, 18.3 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc15.5%

15.5%, 25 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.05

3.05, 1.04 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

635 pupils on roll, with places for 831

Eligible for free school meals47.2%

47.2%, 20.7 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language18%

18%, 3.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18.9%

18.9%, 4.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.7%

4.7%, 1.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Rayner Stephens High School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
All Saints Catholic College0.3 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to goodAttainment 8: 37.5
Hyde High School0.8 milesOfsted: Requires improvementNot published
Trinity School0.8 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 52.4
West Hill School1 mileReport card: Needs attention to expected standardAttainment 8: 43.5
Ashton Sixth Form College2 milesNo Ofsted inspectionNot published

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
STAMFORD PARK TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Mr Martin Davies
Address
Yew Tree Lane, Dukinfield, SK16 5BL
Local authority
Tameside
URN
148430

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.