Shaftesbury High School
Weldbank Lane, Chorley, PR7 3NQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Shaftesbury High School is an alternative provision school in Chorley for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 29 October 2019, report published 2 December 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 23 April 2025
Pupils who attend this school have the opportunity to have a fresh start in education. Many join the school having experienced considerable barriers and disruption to their learning. When pupils arrive at the school, they are listened to, respected and valued by staff. This helps pupils to feel settled, happy and safe. The school has a clear vision to get pupils back on track with their learning. It has high expectations for pupils' academic and social success. Most pupils achieve well. Through thoughtfully designed programmes of study, pupils take qualifications in subjects that match their aspirations and ambitions. As a result, many pupils leave school to progress to positive destinations. Staff treat pupils respectfully and with kindness. They know each pupil extremely well. This contributes significantly to pupils' growing self-esteem and to their confidence. For many pupils, this is their first successful school experience in a long time. Pupils engage purposefully in lessons. Across the school, pupils behave well. The school equips pupils with the tools and strong foundations for their next steps in life. It aligns vocational opportunities with each pupil's interests and goals. Pupils gain hands- on experience in trades such as plumbing, motor mechanics and equine care.
What the school should improve
- At times, teachers' checks on learning, especially when pupils have been absent, are not timely enough to spot gaps in pupils' knowledge. As a result, some pupils are insecure in their learning. The school should ensure that teachers swiftly identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge so that they can learn well.
- The school's systems to monitor and track those pupils who are weaker readers are underdeveloped. This means that some of the weakest readers do not receive the support that they need in a timely and effective way. This hinders their learning of the curriculum and prevents them from achieving as well as they could. The school should ensure that the reading support it has recently introduced is prioritised for the pupils who need the most help.
Pupil numbers and mix
106 pupils on roll, with places for 130
Schools near Shaftesbury High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hill Pupil Referral Unit | 5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| The Heights Blackburn | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| Youth Challenge Pru | 8 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| Three Towers Alternative Provision Academy | 8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good |
| Larches High School | 9 miles | Ofsted: Good |
School details
- School type
- Pupil referral unit
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Ms Abigale Bowe
- Phone
- 01257249803
- Address
- Weldbank Lane, Chorley, PR7 3NQ
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- URN
- 134130
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.