Poynton High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE TRUE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

Yew Tree Lane, Poynton, Stockport, SK12 1PU

01625 871811 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 10 December 2015, before conversion; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths53%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 70% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,467Room for 1,552 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,421 in 2019, 1,391 in 2021, 1,412 in 2022, 1,457 in 2023, 1,499 in 2024, 1,500 in 2025, 1,467 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0248 for 243 places, September 2026
4th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 65% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 December 2015. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 29 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

237 pupils in this year group.

53% — 8 points above the Cheshire East average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 53% 45% 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. 53 47.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.8 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 52%This school 2023/24: 62%This school 2024/25: 53% This school England 45% 2022/23 52% 2023/24 62% 2024/25 53%

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.

210 pupils in this year group.

97% — 3 points above the Cheshire East average, and 5 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 60%10%18%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 97% 94% 92%
School sixth form 60% 40% 34%
Sixth form college 10% 7% 13%
Further education college 18% 40% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
100%97%

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

134 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 19% 24% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 48% 50% 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. 33.4 33.6 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 32.0This school 2023/24: 33.9This school 2024/25: 33.4 This school England 35 2022/23 32.0 2023/24 33.9 2024/25 33.4

A level subjects, 2024/25

25 subjects, 342 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Geography 30 3% 17% 23%
Business Studies:Single 27 4% 11% 16%
Mathematics 27 11% 30% 40%
Sociology 26 4% 4% 20%
History 24 8% 33% 23%
Biology 23 13% 22% 27%
Chemistry 21 5% 14% 30%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 19 5% 16% 14%
Psychology 19 0% 11% 19%
Economics 18 6% 17% 26%
English Literature 17 12% 12% 23%
Drama and Theatre Studies 11 9% 27% 19%
Physics 11 9% 27% 31%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 10 20% 30% 38%
Art and Design (Photography) 9 11% 44% 26%
Computer Studies / Computing 8 13% 38% 24%
Religious Studies 7 0% 0% 22%
Spanish 7 14% 29% 34%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 6 0% 0% 15%
English Language 6 0% 17% 13%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 6 0% 0% 17%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: French, Mathematics (Further), Chinese, Music.

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.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

147 students in this year group.

88% — 9 points above the Cheshire East average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 88% 79% 79%
Apprenticeship 11% 10% 7%
Work 31% 36% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%88%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

146 students in this year group.

75% — 25 points above the Cheshire East average, and 15 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 75% 50% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 42% 14% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
79%75%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Cheshire East. 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 offered243
Families who put it first248
Of those, offered a place231 (93%)
Families who listed it at all491

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Cheshire East

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
11th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.0% 18.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
10th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.9% 4.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 10.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
10th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.3% 9.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 70% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.2% 7.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 80% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
16.9% 20.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
6th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.5 17.8 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 73% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.1% 5.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.07% 0.19% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 83% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.6 16.4 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.0 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
10th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 17% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.1% 12.1%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Poynton High School's Ofsted rating?

Poynton High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 December 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 29 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Poynton High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 53% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Poynton High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 248 families put Poynton High School as their first choice for 243 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 231 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.