SecondaryState · Academy sponsor led

Marsden Heights Community College

Edge End Lane, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0PR ·

Ofsted:Good· 2023

At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–16 in Nelson. Rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection (October 2023). GCSE results are below the England average (Attainment 8: 40.3 vs 46.1, 2024/25). Oversubscribed: 209 families put it first for 205 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–16
Pupils: 1,047
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: Lancashire
Academy trust: UNITED LEARNING TRUST
Headteacher: Mr James Delve
Opened: Nov 2020

School website 01282683060 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

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Graded inspection 3 Oct 2023

GoodOverall effectiveness

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective: Yes

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 210 pupils

Attainment 8

40.3

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

33.3%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

53.8%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

+0.14

2023/24 · CI -0.07 to 0.35

This school

40.3

Lancashire

45.1

England

46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Earlier years include results published for this school's predecessor (URN 134990), for example before it converted to an academy.

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

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Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

205

1st preferences

209

All applications

463

1st prefs per place

1.02

More first choices than places

186 of 209 first-preference applicants were offered a place (89%).

Oversubscribed with first preferences

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

1,048

Capacity

1,050

100% full

Girls / boys

49/51

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)33.5%
English as an additional language90.2%
SEN support17.6%
Education, Health and Care plan2.6%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.