Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #1 in Halton public Top 23% UK

Wade Deacon High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Mr Brendan Hesketh (Principal)

corporate_fareWADE DEACON TRUST

location_onWidnes, WA8 7TD

language Visit Website phone 01514232721

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

1,594

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.2

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GCSE Rank

#1 in Halton

#1,261 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

Wade Deacon High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Widnes, serving ages 11-16. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Wade Deacon High School is an academy converter in Widnes, Halton, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of WADE DEACON TRUST. The school has approximately 1,658 pupils on roll, of whom 26% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.2, placing the school #1 in Halton and #1,261 of 4,024 nationally. 53.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 21.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

49.2

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

53.80%

Grade 4+ E&M

73.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)21.4%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)67.30%

Triple Science Entry7.50%

EBacc Slot Score13.7 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

62.10%

Grade 4+ E&M

76.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)29.0%

Entering EBacc47.90%

EBacc APS4.77

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.2

Grade 5+ E&M

46.80%

Entering EBacc57.10%

EBacc APS4.26

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS4.51

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS4.58

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37%

EBacc APS4.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc74%

EBacc APS4.53

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

92.9%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87.7%

Apprenticeships3.2%

Employment1.9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5.8%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank
2026	#1,276 / 4,024	#1	#1,261	#1
2025	#698 / 3,948	#1	#687	#1
2024	#1,035 / 4,450	#1	#1,417	#1,173
2023	#629 / 4,321	#1	#837	#647
2022	#804 / 4,199	#1	#895	#738
2019	#720 / 2,711	#1	#598	#878
2018	#838 / 2,537	#2	#765	#1,041

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

29 November 2022

Inspection Report

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01 March 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-11-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2011-03-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-03-14

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.8%(45 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,618 pupils. During this period, there were 57 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,618	57	3.5%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,634	54	3.3%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,611	37	2.3%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,614	61	3.8%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,613	40	2.5%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,585	31	2.0%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,594	44	2.8%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,599	39	2.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,601	33	2.1%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,604	38	2.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,610	27	1.7%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,597	27	1.7%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,605	7	0.4%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,607	18	1.1%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,598	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,598	17	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,597	21	1.3%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,589	13	0.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,591	32	2.0%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,600	31	1.9%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,579	22	1.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,583	13	0.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,586	20	1.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,554	14	0.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,559	29	1.9%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,562	25	1.6%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 51 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 46 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 39 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 12 pupils

Physical Disability 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

92%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree52%

agree41%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree34%

agree45%

disagree16%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree30%

agree23%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

not applicable32%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no87%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree39%

agree35%

disagree15%

strongly disagree4%

Don't know7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree65%

agree30%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree43%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree41%

agree45%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree39%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree66%

agree33%

strongly disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree41%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

Top Secondary Schools in Halton

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy

Good

location_on Runcorn, WA7 1QU

emoji_events #2 in LA

The Heath School

Requires improvement

location_on Runcorn, WA7 4SY

emoji_events #3 in LA

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School

Good

location_on Widnes, WA8 7DW

emoji_events #4 in LA

Ormiston Chadwick Academy

Good

location_on Widnes, WA8 7HU

emoji_events #5 in LA

Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy

Inadequate

location_on Runcorn, WA7 5YH

emoji_events #6 in LA

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy

Needs attention

location_on Runcorn, WA7 6EP

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Halton arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Halton

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy

The Heath School

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School

Ormiston Chadwick Academy

Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy