Could Mount Carmel be the right school for your child?
Choosing a secondary school is about far more than buildings, results or a prospectus. It is about finding somewhere your child will be known, supported, challenged and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.
At Mount Carmel, faith, ambition and excellence sit at the heart of school life. We are proud of our strong academic performance, but just as proud of the confident, compassionate young people who make our school what it is.
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“I look forward to welcoming you to our school.”
I am delighted that you are considering Mount Carmel for your child.
We are a thriving Catholic secondary school where faith, ambition and excellence are at the heart of everything we do. Every young person is known, valued and supported to achieve their full potential.
Of course, academic achievement matters enormously. We are immensely proud to be the highest-performing secondary school in Accrington for pupil progress. But education is about more than examination results.
We want our pupils to leave Mount Carmel with excellent qualifications, confidence, character, a strong moral compass and the ambition to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
Caroline Farrelly
Headteacher
More than a place to go to school
Secondary school shapes an important part of a young person's life. We want those years to be ambitious, happy and full of opportunity.
Faith
Growing in faith, confidence and character.
Hover to discoverFaith
Gospel values underpin school life. We nurture each child's unique gifts and encourage young people to grow spiritually and personally as well as academically.
Ambition
High expectations for every young person.
Hover to discoverAmbition
We believe every pupil can achieve. Excellent teaching, an ambitious curriculum and high expectations help young people discover what they are capable of.
Achievement
Exceptional progress matters.
Hover to discoverAchievement
We are proud of our track record in helping pupils make strong progress and leave Mount Carmel ready for the next stage of their education and lives.
Belonging
Known, valued and supported.
Hover to discoverBelonging
Strong relationships and pastoral care create a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where pupils can feel part of the Mount Carmel family.
Qualifications matter. So does the person your child becomes.
Mount Carmel aims to develop confident, compassionate and responsible young people, equipped with the knowledge, skills and character they need for their future.
Don't just read about us. Come and see us.
Websites can only tell you so much. The best way to understand Mount Carmel is to walk through the doors, meet our pupils and staff and experience the atmosphere for yourself.
Get a flavour of Mount Carmel
Hear more about the school and what families can expect from the Mount Carmel experience.
Come and see us on a normal school day
Open Evening is exciting, but sometimes the best way to understand a school is to see an ordinary day.
We welcome prospective pupils and their families for personal visits. See lessons taking place, experience the atmosphere and have the opportunity to ask the questions that matter to your family.
Applying for Year 7 needn't be daunting
Applications for Lancashire pupils are made online through Lancashire County Council. Caroline has recorded a short explanation to help families understand the process before they leave this page.
Let us talk you through it first
The Lancashire County Council admissions system contains a lot of information. Before you head over there, watch Caroline's guide to the process and the things you need to consider.
Watch the guide
Understand the process.
Check our criteria
See the information below.
Apply online
Use the Lancashire system.
Talk it through with Caroline
Every family's circumstances are different. If you would value some time to talk about Mount Carmel, the admissions process or simply whether the school feels right for your child, you can book time directly with our Headteacher.
Book a conversationThe detail, made easier to navigate
Mount Carmel is a Voluntary Aided school. Where the school receives more applications than there are places available, the Governing Body offers places using the priority order below.
Children in public care and previously looked after children, including IAPLAC (children adopted from state care outside of England).
a) Baptised Catholic pupils (refer to section a below)
b) Other pupils who attend a partner Catholic school (refer to section b below)
Pupils attending one of the ‘Church & Oswaldtwistle Cluster’ schools (refer to section c below).
Pupils who attend a Christian faith primary school (refer to section d below).
A pupil who has a sibling who would be concurrently on roll at the school.
Any other pupil.
A Baptised Catholic pupils Certificate information Open +
Send a copy of the pupil's baptismal certificate to:
Mount Carmel R.C. High School
Wordsworth Road
Accrington
BB5 0LU
Please place it in an envelope marked ‘pupil admissions’, or hand it in to the school office.
B Partner Catholic Schools View the schools included Open +
- St Anne’s & St Joseph’s Accrington
- St Mary’s Clayton-Le-Moors
- St Mary’s Oswaldtwistle
- St Oswald’s Accrington
- Sacred Heart Accrington
C ‘Church & Oswaldtwistle Cluster’ Schools View the schools included Open +
- St Andrew’s CE Primary
- Green Haworth CE Primary
- Hippings Methodist Primary
- Knuzden St Oswald’s CE Primary
- Moor End
- St Nicholas CE Primary
- St Paul’s CE Primary
- St Peter’s CE Primary
- West End
D Christian Faith Primary Schools View the schools included Open +
- All Saints CE Primary
- Altham St James CE Primary
- Baxenden St John’s CE Primary
- Benjamin Hargreaves CE Primary
- St John’s with St Augustine’s CE Primary
- St Mary Magdalen’s CE Primary
- Other Christian faith schools
i What happens if a category is oversubscribed? Read the tie-break arrangements Open +
Where there are more applicants for the available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the school and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer addresses having priority over more distant ones.
This address point is within the body of the property and usually located at its centre. Where the cut-off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority's system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).
Policies, forms and further information
You can view the school's current admissions policies and supporting documents below. These documents contain the full formal admissions arrangements.
Come and discover Mount Carmel for yourself.
Choosing a school is a big decision. We would love the opportunity to show you what makes our community special and answer the questions that matter to your family.
