De La Salle School
Academy sponsor led · 1,180 pupils
85% stayed in education
Community school
Cowley International College
- Pupils on roll
- 1,514of 1,620 places
- Free school meals
- 37.5%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 240
- Ofsted
- Report card, 10 March 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Needs attentionAchievement Needs attentionAttendance and behaviour Needs attentionPersonal development and wellbeing Expected standardInclusion Needs attentionLeadership and governance Expected standardPost-16 provision Needs attentionSafeguarding Met
What the data says
Of the 245 pupils who finished Year 11 at Cowley International College in 2023, 39% stayed on in Cowley International College’s own sixth form (St. Helens average 18%), 33% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 127 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 39% went to university (St. Helens 31%, England 37%), and 7% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 39.3 against 46.1 across England and 41.8 in St. Helens, with 30% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average C-, well below the England average of B-; 7% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Chemistry, Psychology and Mathematics.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in St. Helens and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Cowley International College | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 245 | 1,990 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 84% | 88% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 80% | 82% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 39% | 18% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 7% | 25% | 13% |
| — further education college | 33% | 37% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 8% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 6% | 4% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Cowley International College | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 127 | 2,392 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 83% | 74% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 39% | 31% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 7% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 9% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 11% | 9% | 7% |
| Employment | 24% | 27% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 13% | 20% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Cowley International College | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 39.3 | 41.8 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 30% | 36% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 48% | 57% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 53% | 34% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.54 | 3.59 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 43% | 31% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 28.7 | 30.2 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 47.1 | 47.0 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 4% | 5% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 239 | 100% | 88% | 11% | 22% | 52% |
| English Language | 238 | 99% | 89% | 13% | 20% | 60% |
| English Literature | 222 | 93% | 86% | 12% | 21% | 59% |
| Combined Science | 173 | 72% | 65% | 3% | 9% | 47% |
| Geography | 111 | 46% | 41% | 17% | 25% | 55% |
| French | 108 | 45% | 18% | 6% | 29% | 49% |
| History | 101 | 42% | 41% | 17% | 26% | 48% |
| Religious Studies | 54 | 23% | 31% | 24% | 32% | 65% |
| Biology | 53 | 22% | 23% | 30% | 45% | 83% |
| Chemistry | 46 | 19% | 23% | 41% | 47% | 93% |
| Physics | 46 | 19% | 23% | 41% | 46% | 93% |
| Business Studies | 32 | 13% | 18% | 6% | 20% | 34% |
| Art and Design | 31 | 13% | 7% | 6% | 24% | 39% |
| Chinese | 24 | 10% | 1% | 38% | 75% | 83% |
| Computer Science | 22 | 9% | 13% | 0% | 30% | 36% |
| Physical Education | 16 | 7% | 11% | 38% | 24% | 94% |
| Arabic | 2 | 1% | 1% | — | 47% | — |
| Sociology | 1 | 0% | 4% | — | 21% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 206 | 100% | — |
| Engineering Studies | 70 | 96% | — |
| Animal Care (Non-Agricultural) | 49 | 67% | — |
| Sports Studies | 36 | 49% | — |
| Art and Design | 31 | 42% | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 30 | 41% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 24 | 33% | — |
| Health Studies | 18 | 25% | — |
| Tourism | 15 | 21% | — |
| Dance: General | 13 | 18% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 9 | 12% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 8 | 11% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Cowley International College | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 255 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 73 | 945 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C- | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 25.31 | 36.64 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C- | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 7% | 19% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 19 | 26% | 17% |
| Psychology | 19 | 26% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 17 | 23% | 31% |
| Biology | 13 | 18% | 20% |
| Sociology | 10 | 14% | 13% |
| History | 9 | 12% | 13% |
| Physics | 9 | 12% | 12% |
| English Language | 8 | 11% | 4% |
| Religious Studies | 7 | 10% | 4% |
| Physical Education | 6 | 8% | 3% |
| Geography | 6 | 8% | 10% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Chinese | — | — | 0% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Italian | — | — | 0% |
| Business Studies | — | — | 13% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Politics | — | — | 6% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| Law | — | — | 4% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 17 | 23% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 14 | 19% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 18% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 8 | 11% | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 7 | 10% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 6 | 8% | — |
| Film / Video / Television Production | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 8% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Childcare Skills | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Art and Design | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Tourism | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Multimedia | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in St. Helens
Hope Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,235 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.8
Outwood Academy Haydock
Academy sponsor led · 791 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.2
Rainford High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,646 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.6
Rainhill High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,535 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.9
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
Academy sponsor led · 549 pupils
78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.6
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.