Abbey Gate College
Same Lancashire area and similar co-ed selective route
School profile
Verified 17 July 2026
AKS Lytham is a private secondary-stage school in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, with a published age range of 0-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 0-19 Sixth form No boarders Individual
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 0-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
AKS Lytham
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Individual
- Age range
- 0-19
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
AKS Lytham occupies a coastal setting: its Senior School and Sixth Form use a historic red-brick building overlooking the Ribble estuary and Irish Sea. Formed in 2012 from Arnold School and King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, the co-educational day school brings more than 300 years of predecessor-school history into one institution.
The senior curriculum moves from broad academic and creative study towards GCSEs and A levels. English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, modern languages, computing, design and technology, art, drama, music and physical education are joined by Learning2Learn. Round Square membership adds an international and service-minded dimension, while the campus has a Sixth Form area, library, drama studio and theatre, sports hall, and updated music, design technology and science rooms.
Music, sport, creative and academic clubs run alongside school council, Round Square committees, charity work and pupil-led activity. For Year 7, external applicants register by the end of November and attend a January day with an online assessment, leadership meeting and non-assessed group sessions. The coastal journey, intended Sixth Form and co-curricular commitments sit alongside that entry process.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 35 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 32.4% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Lancashire and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 35
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 3.31
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Lancashire and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 0-19
- Headteacher
- Mr David Harrow
- Pupil roll
- 785 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Clifton Drive South, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
- Postcode
- FY8 1DT
- Area
- Lancashire
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Mr David Harrow
School contact
- School phone
- 01253784100
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions and Registrar
- Admissions contact
- Liz Wyatt
- Admissions email
- admissions@akslytham.com
- Admissions phone
- 01253 784104
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 0-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Termly Senior School tuition including VAT, 2026/27.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Year 7 applicants complete an approximately one-hour computerised test that measures potential separately from the syllabus. The assessment day also includes a leadership chat, while interactive transition sessions are not assessed. Later senior-school entry uses an appropriate assessment, and sixth-form entry is normally based on published GCSE-grade criteria.
- Admissions note
- External Year 7 applicants are normally asked to register by the end of November before entry and attend the January Entry Assessment day. The route includes a nationally standardised baseline assessment, a leadership meeting and a previous-school reference. Applications to other senior year groups are considered during the year subject to availability and an appropriate assessment. Sixth-form applicants normally need at least five GCSE grade 6s including English Language and Maths, with grade 6 or above in proposed A-level subjects or related subjects. No Year 7 intake number is published.
External Year 7 applicants are normally asked to register by the end of November before entry and attend the January Entry Assessment day. The route includes a nationally standardised baseline assessment, a leadership meeting and a previous-school reference. Applications to other senior year groups are considered during the year subject to availability and an appropriate assessment. Sixth-form applicants normally need at least five GCSE grade 6s including English Language and Maths, with grade 6 or above in proposed A-level subjects or related subjects. No Year 7 intake number is published.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
-
1
Entry criteria and available place
Applicants must meet the relevant academic, reference, interview and support criteria and a place must be available in the year group.
-
2
Year 7 entrance-assessment ability
If Year 7 is oversubscribed, places are allocated by ability shown in the entrance assessments.
-
3
School reference or interview tie-break
Where entrance-assessment evidence does not distinguish Year 7 candidates, school references and/or interview evidence are considered.
-
4
Published priority groups
The policy may give priority to siblings, children of staff or alumni, transfers from another United Learning school, and applicants of scholarship or Headmaster's Award standard.
-
5
First come, first served where no other priority applies
The school reserves the right to use application order when the published criteria and priorities do not otherwise distinguish applicants.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Year 7 applicants complete an approximately one-hour computerised test that measures potential separately from the syllabus. The assessment day also includes a leadership chat, while interactive transition sessions are not assessed. Later senior-school entry uses an appropriate assessment, and sixth-form entry is normally based on published GCSE-grade criteria.
- Assessment route
- Individual
- Papers and stages
- 3 stages
- Format
- Interview stages
Papers and rounds
-
Round 1
Senior school computerised baseline assessment
External applicants to Years 7-11 complete a nationally standardised baseline assessment appropriate to their route. The Year 7 computerised test takes approximately one hour and measures potential separately from the syllabus; its provider and domains are not published.
-
Round 2
Interview
Senior leadership meeting and reference review
The assessment day includes a meeting with a senior leader, and previous-school references inform the admissions decision. Interactive transition sessions on the day are explicitly not assessed.
-
Round 3
Sixth form academic review
External sixth-form applicants are normally assessed against GCSE grades: at least five grade 6s including English Language and Maths, with at least grade 6 in proposed A-level subjects or related subjects. Applicants slightly below the criteria may be reviewed through interview and references; overseas applicants without GCSEs or IGCSEs are assessed individually.
Published assessment components
Interview is listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
Interview
The assessment day includes a meeting with a senior leader, and previous-school references inform the admissions decision. Interactive transition sessions on the day are explicitly not assessed.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
Year 7 entry assessment
23 January 2027
For Year 7 entry in September 2027.
-
Year 7 offer letters
One week after the entry assessment
The offer timing is relative; no exact date is published.
How to apply
- 1
Enquire and visit
Contact Admissions to discuss the intended year group and availability, and arrange a personal tour or taster visit.
Contact Admissions - 2
Register the applicant
Complete the online senior-school registration form, upload the most recent school report and pay the published registration fee.
Register for a place - 3
Complete the assessment and reference review
External senior applicants complete the relevant entrance assessment and leadership meeting, while the school obtains a reference from the current school.
Review senior entry - 4
Receive and accept the outcome
The school issues an offer or explains the outcome; an accepted place is confirmed with the signed agreement and deposit where required.
Check the full route
Official admissions documents
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 35 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 3.31 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 32.4% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 39.89 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 23 September 2025
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2025 records an inspection beginning 23 September 2025. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
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Related pages and guides
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does AKS Lytham handle admissions?
AKS Lytham handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to AKS Lytham?
1. Enquire and visit: Contact Admissions to discuss the intended year group and availability, and arrange a personal tour or taster visit. 2. Register the applicant: Complete the online senior-school registration form, upload the most recent school report and pay the published registration fee. 3. Complete the assessment and reference review: External senior applicants complete the relevant entrance assessment and leadership meeting, while the school obtains a reference from the current school. 4. Receive and accept the outcome: The school issues an offer or explains the outcome; an accepted place is confirmed with the signed agreement and deposit where required.
When are the key dates for AKS Lytham?
Year 7 entry assessment: 23 January 2027. Year 7 offer letters: One week after the entry assessment
What does the latest inspection picture look like for AKS Lytham?
AKS Lytham is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 23 September 2025.