Best secondary schools in Chorley (2026)
Chorley has 5 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is St Michael's Church of England High School, in the top 9% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 48.8, against 46.1 for England. 1 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Chorley has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 9% in England |
St Michael's Church of England High School Chorley · Church of England |
58.8 | 58.9 | 72% | Good | |
2 Top 15% in England |
Holy Cross Catholic High School Chorley · Roman Catholic |
54.7 | 55.0 | 67% | No rating | |
3 Top 44% in England |
Parklands High School Chorley |
47.7 | 44.4 | 35% | No rating | |
4 Bottom 40% in England |
Albany Academy Chorley |
44.4 | 43.7 | 34% | Good | |
5 Bottom 20% in England |
Southlands High School Chorley |
40.5 | 42.1 | 28% | Requires improvement |
Other towns in Lancashire
- Accrington
- Bamber Bridge
- Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
- Blackpool
- Burnley
- Colne
- Darwen
- Fulwood
- Lancaster
- Leyland
- Orrell
- Penwortham
- Preston
- Rawtenstall
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Chorley?
On exam results over the last three years, St Michael's Church of England High School is the top-ranked secondary school in Chorley, in the top 9% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.