Larches High School
Pupil referral unit school in Preston (Lancashire).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Improved relationships – Improved opportunities – Improved life chances We are located in Preston, Lancashire and are a secondary alternative provision school which provides full time education for up to 125 pupils who are not able to access mainstream educational provision.
We have an inclusive philosophy and believe passionately in ensuring that all pupils are given the opportunities, skills, knowledge and qualifications to ensure that they are able to reintegrate back into mainstream education or on to specialist provision, further education employment or training.
"Not every child has an equal talent or an equal ability or an equal motivation, but every child has the right to develop their talent, their ability and their motivation" JFK We recognise that our pupils are individuals and that "one size does not fit all".
We also understand that many of our pupils have not had a positive experience of education and we believe it is our role to re-engage them with their learning, improve relationships and broaden their opportunities.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
19 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Lesson Times
- Making a Referral to Us
- Operation Encompass
- Tiers of Intervention
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Physical Education
- Humanities
- Media Studies
- Personal Development
- Design Technology/3D Design
- Food Technology
- Drama
- Construction
- Hair Beauty
and 3 more
Awards
2 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
- Sing UpRecognised award
Key facts
- URN
- 119112
- Type
- Pupil referral unit
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Constituency
- Preston
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1999
Governing body (8 current, 1 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Damien Callagher | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2018 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Sharon Asquith | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2028 |
| Councillor Barry Probin | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2028 |
| Mr Michael Shepherd | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Ian Hughes | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2023 · until 2028 |
| Mr Mathew Purnell | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2023 · until 2028 |
| Rebecca Keating | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2021 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Christine Mitchell | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2018 · until 2028 |
| Kathryn Pym Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2021 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record