SchoolScoresThe Sutton Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE CHALLENGE ACADEMY TRUST
Elton Head Road, St Helens, WA9 5AU
01744 678859 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 16 June 2026 , published 20 July 2026.
In short: 3 strong, 4 expected, 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
256 pupils in this year group.
39% — 3 points above the St. Helens average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 39% | 36% | 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. | 43.1 | 41.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.7 | 3.6 | 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.
207 pupils in this year group.
83% — 5 points below the St. Helens average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 83% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 23% | 18% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 14% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 41% | 37% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 83% |
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
19 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D+ | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 0% | 12% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 17% | 31% | 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. | 23.3 | 36.6 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
7 subjects, 36 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 11 | 0% | 0% | 19% |
| English Language and Literature | 6 | 0% | 0% | 16% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Biology, History, Mathematics, Chemistry, Design and Technology (Product Design).
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.
72 students in this year group.
75% — about the same as the St. Helens average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 75% | 74% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 9% | 7% |
| Work | 33% | 27% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 84% | 75% |
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.
69 students in this year group.
46% — 13 points below the St. Helens average, and 14 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 46% | 59% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 3% | 17% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 44% | 46% |
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 St. Helens. 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 255 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 298 |
| Of those, offered a place | 254 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 525 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.2
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 | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.4% | 30.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.5% | 4.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9% | 17.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.8% | 5.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Lower than 21% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 8.9%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Lower than 28% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 27.8% | 23.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 44.9 | 31.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5% | 9.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.28% | 0.39% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 29% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 52% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.9 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in St Helens. Higher than 60% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.2% | 17.0%* | 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
- Rainhill High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Tower College 1.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 11% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 28% grade 5+ English and maths
- De La Salle School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- Cowley International College 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Sutton Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Sutton Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 16 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 strong, 4 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Sutton Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 39% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Sutton Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 298 families put The Sutton Academy as their first choice for 255 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 254 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 136141.
- 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.