Wolgarston High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 13 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of PENK VALLEY ACADEMY TRUST

Cannock Road, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5RX

01785 788400 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card2 strong, 5 expectedSafeguarding met · 12 May 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 58% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils847Room for 860 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 748 in 2019, 795 in 2021, 820 in 2022, 813 in 2023, 826 in 2024, 834 in 2025, 847 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals17%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 12 May 2026 , published 24 June 2026.

In short: 2 strong, 5 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.

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. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets 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. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
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. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than 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.

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Results

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

204 pupils in this year group.

47% — 8 points above the Staffordshire average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 47% 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. 47.6 43.9 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.1 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 58%This school 2023/24: 50%This school 2024/25: 47% This school England 45% 2022/23 58% 2023/24 50% 2024/25 47%

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.

96% — 4 points above the Staffordshire average, and 4 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 48%39%
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. 96% 92% 92%
School sixth form 48% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 3% 13%
Further education college 39% 46% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 5% 3%
Work 3% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%96%

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

81 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 27% 19% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 54% 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. 35.8 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: 40.6This school 2023/24: 39.2This school 2024/25: 35.8 This school England 35 2022/23 40.6 2023/24 39.2 2024/25 35.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

16 subjects, 206 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Biology 25 4% 12% 27%
Mathematics 24 17% 42% 40%
Psychology 24 0% 17% 19%
History 23 13% 30% 23%
Chemistry 22 5% 27% 30%
English Literature 19 11% 21% 23%
Government and Politics 16 6% 38% 26%
Sociology 16 25% 44% 20%
Physics 11 0% 0% 31%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 7 0% 29% 14%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 6 0% 50% 38%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Geography, Mathematics (Further), Art and Design (Graphics), French, Spanish.

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.

98 students in this year group.

96% — 15 points above the Staffordshire average, and 17 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. 96% 81% 79%
Apprenticeship 12% 11% 7%
Work 27% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%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.

84 students in this year group.

75% — 23 points above the Staffordshire average, and 15 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 75% 52% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 30% 11% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
64%75%

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Staffordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.7% 22.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.4% 2.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.5% 13.4%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.6% 7.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
5th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 74% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.0% 7.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 75% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
18.1% 20.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 61% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.7 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.2% 7.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.12% 0.31% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 78% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.2 17.3 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 81% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.3 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 23% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.1% 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 Wolgarston High School's Ofsted rating?

Wolgarston High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 12 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Wolgarston High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.