The Weston Road Academy

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

Part of THE WESTON ROAD ACADEMY

Blackheath Lane, Stafford, ST18 0YG

01785 413600 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 2 October 2013; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths46%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 56% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils978Room for 1,017 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 927 in 2019, 1,011 in 2021, 991 in 2022, 1,002 in 2023, 970 in 2024, 987 in 2025, 978 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0185 for 193 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 51% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 October 2013.

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
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 March 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

180 pupils in this year group.

46% — 7 points above the Staffordshire average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 46% 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. 44.7 43.9 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.9 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 37%This school 2023/24: 46%This school 2024/25: 46% This school England 45% 2022/23 37% 2023/24 46% 2024/25 46%

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.

180 pupils in this year group.

91% — about the same as the Staffordshire average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 22%65%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 91% 92% 92%
School sixth form 22% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 3% 13%
Further education college 65% 46% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 5% 3%
Work 2% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
97%91%

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

33 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 22% 19% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 64% 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. 38.1 33.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 34.8This school 2023/24: 37.5This school 2024/25: 38.1 This school England 35 2022/23 34.8 2023/24 37.5 2024/25 38.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

15 subjects, 88 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Biology 13 0% 15% 27%
Psychology 13 0% 31% 19%
Business Studies:Single 12 17% 17% 16%
Chemistry 12 0% 17% 30%
Mathematics 10 20% 40% 40%
History 9 11% 22% 23%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design, Geography, English Literature, Computer Studies / Computing, Physics, Economics, Law, Physical Education / Sports Studies, Sociology.

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.

42 students in this year group.

86% — 5 points above the Staffordshire average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 86% 81% 79%
Apprenticeship 10% 11% 7%
Work 14% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%86%

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.

42 students in this year group.

74% — 22 points above the Staffordshire average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 74% 52% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 17% 11% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
73%74%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered193
Families who put it first185
Of those, offered a place180 (97%)
Families who listed it at all398

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 Staffordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.3% 22.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 2.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.9% 13.4%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.7% 7.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.2% 7.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
23.6% 20.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
29.1 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 23% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.9% 7.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils 0.51% 0.31% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 71% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.8 17.3 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.0 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 7% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
5.6% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is The Weston Road Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Weston Road Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 October 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did The Weston Road Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 46% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.

Is The Weston Road Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 185 families put The Weston Road Academy as their first choice for 193 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 180 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.