Stantonbury School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of TOVE LEARNING TRUST

Purbeck, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, MK14 6BN

01908 324400 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card3 expected, 1 needs attention, 3 urgent improvementSafeguarding met · 3 March 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths26%England 45% · 2024/25
14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 11% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,409Room for 1,560 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,607 in 2019, 1,564 in 2021, 1,532 in 2022, 1,489 in 2023, 1,504 in 2024, 1,486 in 2025, 1,409 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7143 for 216 places, September 2026
14th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 13% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 3 March 2026 , published 16 July 2026.

In short: 3 expected, 1 needs attention, 3 urgent improvement, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

Category of concern: Special measures. Ofsted will monitor the school closely until it improves.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

134 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school
Higher than 14% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Higher than 8% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
54% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Higher than 7% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
38% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 53 parents whose child had been bullied
Higher than 8% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
23% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 125 parents who had raised a concern
Higher than 13% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
48% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 41 parents of children with SEND
Higher than 10% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
32% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Higher than 10% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
51%said yes 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 9%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

299 pupils in this year group.

26% — 18 points below the Milton Keynes average, and 19 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 26% 44% 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. 32.8 44.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 2.8 3.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 26%This school 2023/24: 36%This school 2024/25: 26% This school England 45% 2022/23 26% 2023/24 36% 2024/25 26%

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.

274 pupils in this year group.

88% — 5 points below the Milton Keynes average, and 4 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 23%60%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 88% 93% 92%
School sixth form 23% 50% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 60% 36% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 2% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%88%

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

23 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Average A level grade D+ C B-
A level exams graded A* or A 4% 17% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 16% 40% 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. 21.8 30.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
15 20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 22.8This school 2023/24: 18.7This school 2024/25: 21.8 This school England 35 2022/23 22.8 2023/24 18.7 2024/25 21.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

11 subjects, 49 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Business Studies:Single 10 0% 0% 16%
Economics 8 0% 13% 26%
Psychology 7 0% 0% 19%
Sociology 6 0% 0% 20%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Government and Politics, Arabic, Chemistry, German.

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.

77 students in this year group.

84% — 2 points above the Milton Keynes average, and 5 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 84% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 4% 7% 7%
Work 35% 32% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%84%

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.

47 students in this year group.

70% — 10 points above the Milton Keynes average, and 10 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 70% 60% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 4% 14% 19%

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 Milton Keynes. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered216
Families who put it first143
Of those, offered a place143 (100%)
Families who listed it at all277

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.5 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.7

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 Milton Keynes

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
42.0% 26.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
8th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 27% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.0% 2.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
8th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
13.1% 12.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.1% 25.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
16.4% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
43.8% 22.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
65.6 22.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
17.4% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 97% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
21.0 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.7 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 81% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
20.1% 14.3%* 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 Stantonbury School's Ofsted rating?

Stantonbury School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 3 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 1 needs attention, 3 urgent improvement, and safeguarding was met.

How did Stantonbury School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 26% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 19 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Stantonbury School?

51% of the 134 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Stantonbury School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Stantonbury School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 143 families put Stantonbury School as their first choice for 216 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 143 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.