SchoolScoresArmfield Academy
Free school · All-through, ages 3 to 16 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of FYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST
488 Lytham Road, Blackpool, FY4 1TL
01253 207702 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 February 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
45% — 10 points below the Blackpool average, and 17 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackpool | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 45% | 55% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 4% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 63% | 69% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 58% | 65% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 62% | 68% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 103 | 105 |
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | Not published | 45% |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
152 pupils in this year group.
20% — 11 points below the Blackpool average, and 26 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackpool | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 20% | 30% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 35.6 | 37 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.3 | 3.2 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
158 pupils in this year group.
87% — 3 points above the Blackpool average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackpool | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 84% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 6% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 31% | 24% | 13% |
| Further education college | 51% | 44% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 5% | 3% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Blackpool. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in (Year 7)?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 159 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 180 |
| Of those, offered a place | 148 (82%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 345 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
How hard is it to get in (Reception)?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 62 |
| Of those, offered a place | 58 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 111 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Blackpool | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 39.8% | 47.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.0% | 2.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.8% | 17.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.3% | 11.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Lower than 41% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.8% | 9.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 26.8% | 29.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Lower than 46% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 16.0 | 33.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Lower than 48% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 9.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.41% | 1.02% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 52% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.9 | 15.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 6% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.2 | 10.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Blackpool. Higher than 28% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 9.9% | 8.2%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- South Shore Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion)
- Highfield Leadership Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 20% grade 5+ English and maths
- BFC School 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- St George's School A CofE Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 71% grade 5+ English and maths
- Tower Learning Centre Independent School 2.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- St Mary's Catholic Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Anne's College Grammar School 2.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 0% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Armfield Academy's Ofsted rating?
Armfield Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 February 2023.
How did Armfield Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 20% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 26 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Armfield Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 180 families put Armfield Academy as their first choice for 159 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 148 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 145863.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.