Cardinal Allen Catholic High School, Fleetwood Review 2026: Catholic secondary with a clear rhythm

GCSE results

In Fleetwood, Cardinal Allen’s results position it as the top-ranked local secondary on FindMySchool’s GCSE ranking. Ranked 2,880th in England and 1st in Fleetwood for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), it sits within the lower 40% of schools in England on this measure, while standing out locally.

The underlying measures help explain the picture. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 41.5, and its Progress 8 score is -0.42, which indicates students make less progress than similar pupils in England from their starting points. Ebacc outcomes are also a feature: 8.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in the Ebacc, with an Ebacc average point score of 3.44 (England average 4.08). For families, that mix tends to matter less as a headline and more as a prompt to ask the right questions: how consistently is challenge pitched across subjects, and what support is in place when students need to catch up and keep pace?

If you are comparing local options, the FindMySchool comparison tool is a useful way to view these measures side by side, rather than relying on one number in isolation.

Wednesday mornings begin differently, with LIFE Learning running before the usual lesson sequence resumes. That detail is small but telling: the school makes protected time for personal development, not as an afterthought but as part of the weekly rhythm.

There is also a clear thread of exam readiness and familiarisation. The school’s published exams information sets out a pattern of mock examinations in January for Year 11 and an internal examination week for Year 10, which gives students repeated experience of formal assessment conditions rather than a single high-stakes moment at the end.

Academic stretch is formalised through the Scholars Programme, which is described as recognising students with high attainment and academic potential and building in enrichment such as workshops, masterclasses, research projects and speaking opportunities. For the student who likes intellectual momentum, the value is not the label, but the expectation that learning extends beyond the next test.

Because this is an 11 to 16 school, the next step is post-16 choice rather than internal progression. The school’s careers offer is positioned around impartial guidance and exposure to different pathways, with one-to-one careers guidance interviews for all Year 11 students alongside careers education through the LIFE curriculum and additional events.

For families, the practical implication is that post-16 planning is not left until the final term. A well-run transition is usually a combination of information (what options exist), experience (encounters with providers and employers), and support (help matching a student’s strengths to the right route), and the school’s published approach speaks directly to that.

Routes and criteria

Admissions are governor-led because Cardinal Allen is a voluntary aided school, and applications go through the local authority alongside additional school paperwork. The school is direct about the Supplementary Information Form being important for Catholic schools, and the message is simple: families who miss it can end up assessed without the information that faith-based criteria rely on.

The school also frames itself within a wider family of Catholic “partner schools” and highlights a number of primary schools from which pupils have been admitted. That matters less as a guarantee and more as a clue to how the local Catholic network shapes admissions expectations and parent decision-making.

Timeline and practicalities

Demand is the headline reality. In the most recent admissions data, there were 358 applications for 159 offers, which is about 2.25 applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. For families, this changes the tone of the process: it is not only about preference, it is about precision with deadlines, forms, and evidence.

Parents considering a move should use the FindMySchool map tools to check logistics early, then treat admissions paperwork as a project with its own timeline, especially where church evidence and supplementary forms are involved.

Pastoral care here is described as a whole-staff responsibility, with daily form tutor contact and a dedicated pastoral assistant for each year group, plus a pastoral hub available during the day. For many students, that layered model is what makes a busy secondary feel manageable: one known adult each morning, plus another place to go when the day is not going to plan.

Additional support is also described in concrete terms, including access to a school counsellor offering weekly appointments and a school nurse holding monthly clinics, with signposting and referrals to external support where needed. Safeguarding roles are published clearly, which is often a quiet indicator of seriousness: families know who holds responsibility and how concerns are handled.

Clubs & enrichment

The extracurricular timetable is detailed enough to feel like a real programme rather than a generic promise. Options listed include Debate Club, Historical Society, Eco Club, Science Club, a Spanish Conversation Club, and a regular Homework Club after school. Faith life extends beyond RE lessons too, with Pupil Chaplains running as a scheduled group.

For students who benefit from routine and belonging, clubs work best when they are predictable and staffed consistently. Here, the breadth suggests there is likely to be something that fits both the quietly committed student and the one who needs a structured reason to stay after school and build confidence.

Sport, arts and awards

Sport features by year group in the published programme, including football, netball and rugby. Creative life has named strands as well, with a drama group scheduled in the Drama Studio and after-school music groups alongside a younger choir.

The school also has a track record of recognised wider-achievement frameworks. It holds Duke of Edinburgh Licensed Organisation status and offers Bronze and Silver levels, and its environmental work is backed by multiple Eco-Schools Green Flag awards. Geography is another point of identity, with the school holding the Geographical Association’s Secondary Geography Quality Mark (since 2013) and its Geography Centre of Excellence award (since 2016). For families, these are useful signals because they point to departments and programmes with sustained attention over time, not just a one-off event.

Transport & parking

Fleetwood families are typically balancing car and bus logistics, and Melbourne Avenue is a practical reality at drop-off and pick-up. For rail connections into the area, Poulton-le-Fylde is often the nearest station to Fleetwood, with onward travel needed. If your child will stay for clubs, plan the journey home in advance; the later finish is rarely the problem, it is the coordination.

The school day

Pupils are expected on site by 8.40am, with tutorial and assembly from 8.45am and a 3.10pm finish. Break and lunch are staggered by year groups, and Wednesdays include a dedicated LIFE Learning slot in the morning before the regular lesson pattern continues.

Catholic life is active, not symbolic. Daily prayer, regular Mass, chaplaincy and retreats are woven into the school’s routine. Many families value this clarity; those uncomfortable with a strong Catholic character should be honest with themselves early.

Admissions involves more than the local authority form. As a voluntary aided school, governors set the admissions arrangements and the school expects a Supplementary Information Form alongside the standard application route. With oversubscription, small admin slips can carry disproportionate consequences.

The academic picture is mixed across measures. The school ranks first locally in Fleetwood on FindMySchool’s GCSE ranking, yet sits in the lower 40% of schools in England on that measure, with a Progress 8 score of -0.42 and low Ebacc grade 5-plus outcomes. Families should look for a plan that matches the child’s starting points, not just an overall label.

After-school life is broad, but it stretches the day. The club timetable is strong, from debate to Eco Club to DofE. That is a positive for many students, but it does require transport planning, especially in winter evenings.

Cardinal Allen Catholic High School, Fleetwood is a structured, faith-centred 11 to 16 where Catholic life is part of the weekly rhythm and extracurricular options are laid out with real specificity. Results data shows a school that stands out locally while needing to keep a close eye on progress and breadth measures across England benchmarks. Best suited to families who want a clear Catholic ethos, predictable routines, and a timetable that supports both learning and wider participation. Competition for places is the limiting factor, so the practical side of admissions matters as much as preference.