Rossall School
Rossall School
Fleetwood, England
Rossall School is located right on the Lancashire coast – with expansive sea views and direct access to the beach. The school is friendly, diverse and internationally minded. Its broad extracurricular programme makes it ideal for pupils who want to develop beyond the classroom. The elite football programme completes the picture.
Academically, the school provides individual support – helping where it’s needed and encouraging pupils to be active and curious.
The Details
The Academics
At Rossall School, pupils can choose between GCSEs, A Levels and the IB – a rarely diverse selection. The school is not highly selective, and with around 40 percent international pupils, English is often not the first language. All the more remarkable are the consistently solid results: in 2024, 39 percent of GCSEs achieved top grades 9–7, 44 percent of A Levels were graded A, and the IB average was a strong 34 points – four above the world average.
Rossall places great emphasis on individual support. Pupils with dyslexia or dyscalculia, as well as those who simply need extra help, receive targeted guidance – calmly, competently and pragmatically.
Languages Taught
German, English as a Foreign Language, French, Latin and Spanish.
The Boarding
About 55 percent of pupils board. The houses are cosy, although some showed a need for renovation during our last visit. Most share a room with one other pupil; single rooms are available in the final year.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Rossall School is a place where pupils feel comfortable—regardless of their background, talent or interests. Whether academically gifted or facing learning challenges, sporty or creative, Rossall meets every pupil with genuine openness and impressive flexibility.
Sport is taken very seriously at Rossall. With dedicated academies for football, hockey, rugby and golf, professional coaches and structured training programmes, the school offers ideal conditions for ambitious young athletes. A particular highlight is the exclusive partnership with Manchester City – a real game-changer for the elite football programme. Other sports include basketball, squash, badminton and, of course, sailing – right on the coast.
Beyond sport, the offerings are equally exceptional: from the new cookery studio and set-design courses to the school’s own planetarium with its resident astronomer, Rossall demonstrates what a broad-based, modern boarding school can achieve today.
Weaknesses
At the moment, the boarding accommodation is the only issue mentioned. The school assured us just a few months ago that renovations are planned soon. Watch this space!
Location
Rossall School is located on the west coast, about 30 minutes northwest of the city of Manchester.
Blackpool - 20 mins by car
Rossall is ideal for pupils who want not only academic challenge and support but also to thrive fully outside the classroom.
A highlight is the Lawrence House Astronomy and Space Science Centre, the only one of its kind in the United Kingdom.
Take a look at similar schools
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Warminster School
Claremont School
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