SchoolScoresJohn Taylor Free School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of JOHN TAYLOR MAT
Branston Road, Tatenhill, Burton-on-Trent, DE13 9SA
01283 247823 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 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 | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
225 pupils in this year group.
48% — 9 points above the Staffordshire average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 48% | 40% | 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. | 46.4 | 43.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 3.8 | 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.
197 pupils in this year group.
97% — 5 points above the Staffordshire average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 97% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 57% | 33% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 3% | 13% |
| Further education college | 32% | 46% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
99 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 18% | 19% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 42% | 46% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 31.4 | 33.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
22 subjects, 272 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 26 | 4% | 19% | 27% |
| Law | 22 | 0% | 9% | 17% |
| Mathematics | 22 | 5% | 23% | 40% |
| Sociology | 19 | 5% | 26% | 20% |
| English Language | 18 | 17% | 22% | 13% |
| Business Studies:Single | 17 | 0% | 24% | 16% |
| Psychology | 15 | 0% | 13% | 19% |
| Chemistry | 14 | 0% | 14% | 30% |
| English Literature | 13 | 15% | 38% | 23% |
| Film Studies | 13 | 0% | 0% | 17% |
| History | 13 | 0% | 23% | 23% |
| Economics | 12 | 0% | 8% | 26% |
| French | 11 | 0% | 9% | 38% |
| Environmental Science | 10 | 0% | 10% | 14% |
| Geography | 10 | 10% | 30% | 23% |
| Government and Politics | 8 | 0% | 25% | 26% |
| Physics | 8 | 0% | 13% | 31% |
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 7 | 0% | 0% | 17% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Computer Studies / Computing, Design and Technology (Product Design), Art and Design (Fine Art), Mathematics (Further).
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 Staffordshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 181 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 173 |
| Of those, offered a place | 173 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 426 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.5% | 22.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.2% | 2.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 13.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.7% | 7.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Lower than 62% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.7% | 7.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Lower than 46% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.2% | 20.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Lower than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 30.0 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.0% | 7.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded10 pupils | 0.75% | 0.31% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 61% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.3 | 17.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.8 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Burton-on-Trent. Higher than 77% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9% | 13.9%* | 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
- Paget High School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- John Taylor High School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 64% grade 5+ English and maths
- Paulet High School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is John Taylor Free School's Ofsted rating?
John Taylor Free School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 February 2023.
How did John Taylor Free School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.
Is John Taylor Free School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 173 families put John Taylor Free School as their first choice for 181 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 173 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 145889.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.