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Academy converter · Stoke-on-Trent

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,143Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Roman CatholicReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 140149URN

Little Chell Lane, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6LZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.2per place
0.3 above Stoke-on-Trent median (1.9)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Stoke-on-TrentSelective

457 applications for 209 places · 5th of 15 in Stoke-on-Trent
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
42.3of 90
6th of 14 in Stoke-on-Trent
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 27 January 2026Published 28 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 27 January 2026
    Report card · 7 Expected standard
  2. 29 September 2021
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

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
2.2applications per place, Year 7
0.3 above Stoke-on-Trent median (1.9) close to England median (2.2)

457 applications · 209 places offered · 219 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.2; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  2. 2025 2.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  3. 2024 2.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  4. 2023 2.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  5. 2022 2.0; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0
  6. 2021 2.0; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  7. 2020 2.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  8. 2019 1.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  9. 2018 2.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0
  10. 2017 2.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0
  11. 2016 1.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  12. 2015 1.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  13. 2014 1.8; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7
  • This school
  • Stoke-on-Trent 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 20262094572.22191.05
Sep 20252094392.12171.04
Sep 20242044362.11950.96
Sep 20232084352.12201.06
Sep 20222104242.01690.80
Sep 20212094222.01960.94
Sep 20202074442.11780.86
Sep 20192103981.91680.80
Sep 20182074342.12151.04
Sep 20171984082.12061.04
Sep 20162083971.91940.93
Sep 20151953741.91810.93
Sep 20142023681.82041.01

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

204 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.36th of 14 in Stoke-on-Trent
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%3rd of 14 in Stoke-on-Trent
Grade 4 or above in English and maths58%
  • This school
  • Stoke-on-Trent median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.44
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20442.340%58%–
2024/2520643.040%64%–
2023/2420841.235%62%−0.44
2022/2320444.843%67%−0.25

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 converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
140149 · 861/4711
Trust
St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Capacity
1,200 pupils · 1,143 on roll
Free school meals
36.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2013
Replaced
St Margaret Ward Catholic School and Arts College (URN 124460)
Address
Little Chell Lane, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6LZ
Local authority
Stoke-on-Trent

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