SchoolScoresThe Hart School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of CREATIVE EDUCATION TRUST
Penkridge Bank Road, Rugeley, WS15 2UE
01889 802440 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 March 2018.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
213 pupils in this year group.
42% — 2 points above the Staffordshire average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 42% | 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. | 46.5 | 43.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 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.
202 pupils in this year group.
90% — 2 points below the Staffordshire average, and 2 points below 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. | 90% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 36% | 33% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 3% | 13% |
| Further education college | 46% | 46% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 5% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 90% |
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
60 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 | 12% | 19% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 35% | 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. | 29.3 | 33.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
15 subjects, 129 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 16 | 13% | 25% | 20% |
| Biology | 11 | 0% | 9% | 27% |
| Mathematics | 11 | 0% | 18% | 40% |
| Drama and Theatre Studies | 10 | 0% | 0% | 19% |
| English Language | 10 | 0% | 10% | 13% |
| History | 10 | 0% | 10% | 23% |
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 10 | 0% | 0% | 14% |
| Art and Design (Photography) | 8 | 13% | 13% | 26% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 7 | 14% | 29% | 38% |
| Law | 7 | 0% | 0% | 17% |
| Physics | 7 | 0% | 14% | 31% |
| Psychology | 7 | 14% | 29% | 19% |
| Environmental Science | 6 | 0% | 0% | 14% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Geography, English Literature.
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.
55 students in this year group.
96% — 15 points above the Staffordshire average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 96% | 81% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 13% | 11% | 7% |
| Work | 27% | 33% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 96% |
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.
49 students in this year group.
59% — 7 points above the Staffordshire average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 59% | 52% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 6% | 11% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 79% | 59% |
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 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 159 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 129 |
| Of those, offered a place | 129 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 254 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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 19th highest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 28.1% | 22.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 34th highest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 36% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.4% | 2.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 27th highest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.5% | 13.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 40th highest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.0% | 7.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 59th lowest of 70 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.5% | 7.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 58th lowest of 70 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 27.3% | 20.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 65th lowest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Lower than 16% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 39.0 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 54th lowest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.1% | 7.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded9 pupils | 0.74% | 0.31% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 72 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 98% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 21.3 | 17.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 72 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.2 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 5th highest of 71 state secondary schools in Staffordshire. Higher than 95% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 29.7% | 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
- JP Alternative Education 1.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Rugeley John Taylor 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Hart School's Ofsted rating?
The Hart School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 March 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Hart School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Hart School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 129 families put The Hart School as their first choice for 159 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 129 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 137100.
- 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, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.