Balshaw's Church of England High School
Voluntary controlled secondary school in Leyland (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
Balshaw's Church of England High School is a school with long traditions and a reputation second to none for academic excellence. The original school was founded by a local businessman, Richard Balshaw, in 1782. The present building dates from 1931 with major additions of facilities completed in 1984 and in 2003-05.
We have a continuing programme of expansion and modernisation to meet the twin challenges of demand for places and the present and future educational needs of our students. Our facilities include all the specialist rooms needed to meet the demands of teaching the National Curriculum, situated in a pleasant site of 23 acres of playing fields.
Some 25 subjects are taught to GCSE and other levels and a large proportion of students gain grade 4 or higher at GCSE in a selection of subjects. 98% of students stayed in education or employment in 2021 compared to 94% nationally and 93% in Lancashire. Balshaw's has always had a high standard of education, as can be seen from the following quote which still rings true today:
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
10 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Athletics
- Band
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Debating
- Drama
- Film Club
- Football
- Hockey
- Rugby
Awards
4 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Fairtrade SchoolRecognised award
- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
- Eco Schools Green FlagEnvironment
Key facts
- URN
- 119775
- Type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Constituency
- South Ribble
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Governing body (16 current, 3 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rev Paul Robinson | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Paul Wharton | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Ruth Bird | Governor | Nominated by other body and appointed by GB | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr David Melling | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Kris Williams | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Charlotte Leathard | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Georgina Jacobs | Governor | Nominated by LA and appointed by GB | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Kitty Frances Ellison | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Sonia Edwards | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Kevin Anthony | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Anthony Holland | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Damian Clapham | Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Carol Berry | Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Keith Woodcock | Governor | Persons who are appointed by the foundation body or sponsor (if applicable) | since 2023 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Rev Paul Trevor Davies | Governor | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2022 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Steven C Haycocks | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2014 |
| Mrs Ruth Bird Former | Governor | Persons who are appointed by the foundation body or sponsor (if applicable) | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr David Yates Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Kris Williams Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2021 · term ended 2025 |
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