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Academy sponsor led · Staffordshire

Staffordshire University Academy

  • 11–19Ages
  • 709Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137164URN

Marston Road, Hednesford, Cannock, WS12 4JH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.7per place
close to Staffordshire median (1.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Staffordshire

287 applications for 169 places · 34th of 48 in Staffordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
33.3of 90
55th of 56 in Staffordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 10 October 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth form provisionGood

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.7applications per place, Year 7
close to Staffordshire median (1.8) 0.5 below England median (2.2)

287 applications · 169 places offered · 155 named it first

  1. 2026 1.7; Staffordshire median median 1.8
  2. 2025 1.8; Staffordshire median median 1.9
  3. 2024 1.6; Staffordshire median median 1.7
  4. 2023 1.4; Staffordshire median median 1.7
  5. 2022 2.0; Staffordshire median median 1.8
  6. 2021 1.5; Staffordshire median median 1.7
  7. 2020 1.8; Staffordshire median median 1.8
  8. 2019 1.6; Staffordshire median median 1.7
  9. 2018 1.8; Staffordshire median median 1.8
  10. 2017 1.6; Staffordshire median median 1.7
  11. 2016 1.5; Staffordshire median median 1.8
  12. 2015 1.3; Staffordshire median median 1.6
  13. 2014 1.5; Staffordshire median median 1.7
More applications per place than the Staffordshire median in 1 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Staffordshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261692871.71550.92
Sep 20251472651.81260.86
Sep 20241752721.61280.73
Sep 20231822561.41480.81
Sep 20221072112.0980.92
Sep 20211291991.51150.89
Sep 2020881541.8790.90
Sep 20191312051.61170.89
Sep 2018981741.8970.99
Sep 20171362111.61300.96
Sep 20161221821.51200.98
Sep 20151411891.31350.96
Sep 20141191721.51191.00

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

107 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)33.355th of 56 in Staffordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths12%56th of 56 in Staffordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths27%
  • This school
  • Staffordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.74
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)10733.312%27%–
2024/257132.910%31%–
2023/2410535.820%42%−0.74
2022/239534.122%42%−0.93

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
137164 · 860/4005
Trust
Staffordshire University Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
900 pupils · 709 on roll
Free school meals
44.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2011
Replaced
Blake Valley Technology College (URN 124398)
Address
Marston Road, Hednesford, Cannock, WS12 4JH
Local authority
Staffordshire · Cannock Chase

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources