Penwortham Girls' High School is a mainstream secondary school in Preston, Lancashire, for girls aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 60 of its 799 pupils (7.5%) were getting SEN support and 25 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 799 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
7.5% get SEN support
60 of 799 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
25 of 799 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia21
- Autism17
- Moderate learning difficulty12
- Social, emotional and mental health8
- Speech, language and communication8
- Physical disability5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 799 (places for 800)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sharon Hall
- Free school meals
- 16.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 119765
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Lancashire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, May 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0SR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Cedar Lodge School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.9 miles
- New Focus Education Independent · Ages 6–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
- Ashton Community Science College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
- Holme Slack Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cop Lane Church of England Primary School, Penwortham Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.7%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.3 miles
- Penwortham Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.9%, EHC plans 0.5% 0.3 miles
- Penwortham, St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 6.7%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Penwortham Girls' High School
How many pupils at Penwortham Girls' High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 60 of the 799 pupils (7.5%) were getting SEN support and 25 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Penwortham Girls' High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (21 pupils), autism (17 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Penwortham Girls' High School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Penwortham Girls' High School?
Through Lancashire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Penwortham Girls' High School?
You can ask for Penwortham Girls' High School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Penwortham Girls' High School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Ashton Community Science College, about 1.7 miles away.
Where is Penwortham Girls' High School?
Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0SR, in Lancashire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.