What did Ofsted judge Rainhill High School's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Rainhill High School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Rainhill High School?

Rainhill High School has 1,535 pupils on roll.

What ages does Rainhill High School take?

Rainhill High School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Rainhill High School located?

Rainhill High School is located in Prescot, L35 6NY, St. Helens.

How do I apply to Rainhill High School?

Rainhill High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How close do you need to live to get into Rainhill High School?

On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Rainhill High School was 3.309 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Year 7 places decided at Rainhill High School?

When Rainhill High School has more applications than places for 2025-26, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but then became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children from associated primary schools — Children from the following associated primary schools; Eccleston Lane Ends Primary, Longton Lane Community Primary, Nutgrove Methodist Aided Primary, Oakdene Primary, St Ann's CE Primary; 3. Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. The brother or sister must be on the school roll in Years 7 – 11. This includes full, half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters or a child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case, who is living at the same address and is part of the same family unit, and 1 further criteria. 291 places were offered at this entry point for 2025-26. Tie-break: In the event of any over-subscription in the number of applications made under any of the categories above the Governing Body will offer places first to children whose family home is in the St Helens borough nearest the school. The measurement shall be done by the Local Authority in a straight line using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) data and the National Grid co-ordinates for the family home and the school. Where the tie break does not distinguish between applicants e.g. children living in the same block of flats random allocation will be used. This will be done by drawing lots and supervised by someone independent of the school.

What is the largest ethnic background at Rainhill High School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 87.5% of pupils at Rainhill High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Rainhill High School: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

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How close did you need to live?

3.309miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at Rainhill High School, year by year →

How places are decided at Rainhill High School

When there are more applications than places for 2025-26 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but then became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Children from associated primary schools — Children from the following associated primary schools; Eccleston Lane Ends Primary, Longton Lane Community Primary, Nutgrove Methodist Aided Primary, Oakdene Primary, St Ann's CE Primary.
3Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. The brother or sister must be on the school roll in Years 7 – 11. This includes full, half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters or a child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case, who is living at the same address and is part of the same family unit.
4Other Children

If two applications tie: In the event of any over-subscription in the number of applications made under any of the categories above the Governing Body will offer places first to children whose family home is in the St Helens borough nearest the school. The measurement shall be done by the Local Authority in a straight line using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) data and the National Grid co-ordinates for the family home and the school. Where the tie break does not distinguish between applicants e.g. children living in the same block of flats random allocation will be used. This will be done by drawing lots and supervised by someone independent of the school.

The tie-breaker applies only to children whose family home is in the St Helens borough. Waiting list closes at the end of the autumn term for the September 2025 Year 7 intake.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Rainhill High School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Rainhill High School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Rainhill High School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Rainhill High School?: Rainhill High School has 1,535 pupils on roll.
What ages does Rainhill High School take?: Rainhill High School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Rainhill High School located?: Rainhill High School is located in Prescot, L35 6NY, St. Helens.
How do I apply to Rainhill High School?: Rainhill High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into Rainhill High School?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Rainhill High School was 3.309 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at Rainhill High School?: When Rainhill High School has more applications than places for 2025-26, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but then became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children from associated primary schools — Children from the following associated primary schools; Eccleston Lane Ends Primary, Longton Lane Community Primary, Nutgrove Methodist Aided Primary, Oakdene Primary, St Ann's CE Primary; 3. Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. The brother or sister must be on the school roll in Years 7 – 11. This includes full, half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters or a child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case, who is living at the same address and is part of the same family unit, and 1 further criteria. 291 places were offered at this entry point for 2025-26. Tie-break: In the event of any over-subscription in the number of applications made under any of the categories above the Governing Body will offer places first to children whose family home is in the St Helens borough nearest the school. The measurement shall be done by the Local Authority in a straight line using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) data and the National Grid co-ordinates for the family home and the school. Where the tie break does not distinguish between applicants e.g. children living in the same block of flats random allocation will be used. This will be done by drawing lots and supervised by someone independent of the school.
What is the largest ethnic background at Rainhill High School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 87.5% of pupils at Rainhill High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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Feeder schools & nurseries

Children attending these settings are given priority in this school's admissions.

Longton Lane Community Primary School

Primary

Good

Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School

Primary

Nutgrove Methodist Primary School

Primary

Oakdene Primary Academy

Primary

St Ann's Church of England Primary School

Primary

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

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How close did you need to live?

3.309miles

Last distance offered at Rainhill High School, year by year →

How places are decided at Rainhill High School

When there are more applications than places for 2025-26 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but then became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Children from associated primary schools — Children from the following associated primary schools; Eccleston Lane Ends Primary, Longton Lane Community Primary, Nutgrove Methodist Aided Primary, Oakdene Primary, St Ann's CE Primary.
3Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. The brother or sister must be on the school roll in Years 7 – 11. This includes full, half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters or a child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case, who is living at the same address and is part of the same family unit.
4Other Children

The tie-breaker applies only to children whose family home is in the St Helens borough. Waiting list closes at the end of the autumn term for the September 2025 Year 7 intake.

Rainhill High School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Rainhill High School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Rainhill High School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Rainhill High School?: Rainhill High School has 1,535 pupils on roll.
What ages does Rainhill High School take?: Rainhill High School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Rainhill High School located?: Rainhill High School is located in Prescot, L35 6NY, St. Helens.
How do I apply to Rainhill High School?: Rainhill High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into Rainhill High School?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Rainhill High School was 3.309 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at Rainhill High School?: When Rainhill High School has more applications than places for 2025-26, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but then became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children from associated primary schools — Children from the following associated primary schools; Eccleston Lane Ends Primary, Longton Lane Community Primary, Nutgrove Methodist Aided Primary, Oakdene Primary, St Ann's CE Primary; 3. Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. The brother or sister must be on the school roll in Years 7 – 11. This includes full, half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters or a child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case, who is living at the same address and is part of the same family unit, and 1 further criteria. 291 places were offered at this entry point for 2025-26. Tie-break: In the event of any over-subscription in the number of applications made under any of the categories above the Governing Body will offer places first to children whose family home is in the St Helens borough nearest the school. The measurement shall be done by the Local Authority in a straight line using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) data and the National Grid co-ordinates for the family home and the school. Where the tie break does not distinguish between applicants e.g. children living in the same block of flats random allocation will be used. This will be done by drawing lots and supervised by someone independent of the school.
What is the largest ethnic background at Rainhill High School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 87.5% of pupils at Rainhill High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

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Rainhill High School

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How places are decided at Rainhill High School

Rainhill High School: key facts

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Rainhill High School

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How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Rainhill High School

Rainhill High School: key facts

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Connected nurseries & schools

Feeder schools & nurseries

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