Wales High School

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

Part of WALES HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST

Storth Lane, Kiveton Park, Sheffield, S26 5QQ

01909 771291 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 8 April 2014; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths41%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 43% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,783Room for 1,867 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,744 in 2019, 1,833 in 2021, 1,825 in 2022, 1,850 in 2023, 1,833 in 2024, 1,815 in 2025, 1,783 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0271 for 277 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 56% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 8 April 2014.

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 11 October 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

175 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Rotherham comparisons use the 7 of its 17 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolRotherhamEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rotherham.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 62% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rotherham.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 67% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rotherham.
Higher than 51% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 48% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 67 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rotherham.
Higher than 37% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 33% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 140 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rotherham.
Higher than 51% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 44% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rotherham.
Higher than 58% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83%said yes 52% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Rotherham figures pool parents at the Rotherham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

315 pupils in this year group.

41% — 3 points above the Rotherham average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolRotherhamEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 41% 39% 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. 45.3 41.8 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.1 3.6 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: 43%This school 2023/24: 42%This school 2024/25: 41% This school England 45% 2022/23 43% 2023/24 42% 2024/25 41%

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.

330 pupils in this year group.

92% — 3 points above the Rotherham average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 33%10%37%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolRotherhamEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 92% 89% 92%
School sixth form 33% 24% 34%
Sixth form college 10% 18% 13%
Further education college 37% 35% 37%
Apprenticeship 7% 5% 3%
Work 4% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%92%

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

90 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolRotherhamEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 25% 20% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 48% 45% 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. 33.5 32.9 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: 31.8This school 2023/24: 34.0This school 2024/25: 33.5 This school England 35 2022/23 31.8 2023/24 34.0 2024/25 33.5

A level subjects, 2024/25

25 subjects, 213 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 25 0% 0% 19%
Business Studies:Single 19 0% 11% 16%
Law 19 0% 0% 17%
History 17 6% 29% 23%
Mathematics 16 25% 69% 40%
English Literature 11 0% 9% 23%
Film Studies 11 0% 18% 17%
Economics 10 10% 20% 26%
Physics 9 22% 56% 31%
Accounting / Finance 8 0% 25% 15%
Geography 8 0% 0% 23%
Mathematics (Further) 7 29% 71% 59%
Biology 6 0% 50% 27%
Chemistry 6 17% 33% 30%
Sociology 6 0% 33% 20%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Physical Education / Sports Studies, Art and Design (Photography), Computer Studies / Computing, English Language and Literature, French, Geology, Spanish, Government and Politics, Art and Design (Fine Art), 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.

116 students in this year group.

86% — 10 points above the Rotherham average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolRotherhamEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 86% 76% 79%
Apprenticeship 13% 10% 7%
Work 34% 31% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%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.

119 students in this year group.

63% — 13 points above the Rotherham average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolRotherhamEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 63% 50% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 18% 12% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
56%63%

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 Rotherham. 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 offered277
Families who put it first271
Of those, offered a place270 (100%)
Families who listed it at all489

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 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 Rotherham

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 40 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolRotherhamEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.9% 32.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.8% 3.9%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.7% 16.6%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.7% 11.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Lower than 43% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.8% 9.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
23.7% 25.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
22.7 32.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Lower than 32% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.2% 9.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils 0.39% 0.29% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 14% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.8 16.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.4 10.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sheffield (Rotherham).
Higher than 15% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
7.6% 15.3%* 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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Wales High School's Ofsted rating?

Wales High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 8 April 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 11 October 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Wales High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 41% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Wales High School?

83% of the 175 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Wales High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Wales High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 271 families put Wales High School as their first choice for 277 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 270 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.