Academy converter · Staffordshire

Newcastle Academy

11–16Ages
441Pupils
SecondaryPhase
142277URN

Gallowstree Lane, The Westlands, Newcastle Under Lyme, ST5 2QS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

0.2 above Staffordshire median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Staffordshire

200 applications for 97 places · 13th of 48 in Staffordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

31.9of 90

Staffordshire 43.5 England 46.0

56th of 56 in Staffordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 7 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		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

2.1applications per place, Year 7

0.2 above Staffordshire median (1.8) close to England median (2.2)

200 applications · 97 places offered · 70 named it first

2026 2.1; Staffordshire median median 1.8
2025 2.4; Staffordshire median median 1.9
2024 1.7; Staffordshire median median 1.7
2023 1.8; Staffordshire median median 1.7
2022 1.8; Staffordshire median median 1.8
2021 2.2; Staffordshire median median 1.7
2020 1.5; Staffordshire median median 1.8
2019 0.9; Staffordshire median median 1.7
2018 2.1; Staffordshire median median 1.8
2017 1.8; Staffordshire median median 1.7
2016 2.0; Staffordshire median median 1.8
2015 1.9; Staffordshire median median 1.6; as the previous school
2014 1.7; Staffordshire median median 1.7; as the previous school

This school
Staffordshire median

Dashed bars: as NCHS The Science College (URN 124413), the previous school.

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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	97	200	2.1	70	0.72
Sep 2025	105	247	2.4	85	0.81
Sep 2024	99	166	1.7	61	0.62
Sep 2023	105	186	1.8	75	0.71
Sep 2022	93	170	1.8	56	0.60
Sep 2021	80	179	2.2	65	0.81
Sep 2020	92	141	1.5	61	0.66
Sep 2019	131	115	0.9	47	0.36
Sep 2018	81	167	2.1	71	0.88
Sep 2017	86	154	1.8	65	0.76
Sep 2016	85	173	2.0	73	0.86
Sep 2015 *	90	171	1.9	67	0.74
Sep 2014 *	83	141	1.7	72	0.87

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

81 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)31.956th of 56 in Staffordshire

Staffordshire 43.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths14%55th of 56 in Staffordshire

Staffordshire 38% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths32%

Staffordshire 60% England 66%

This school
Staffordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.19

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	81	31.9	14%	32%	–
2024/25	81	37.6	32%	52%	–
2023/24	71	30.5	16%	38%	−1.19
2022/23	75	32.2	13%	33%	−0.92

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

Newcastle AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

2.1applications per place 31.9Attainment 8
St John Fisher Catholic College
1.6 km · Staffordshire

Requires improvement2023

2.2applications per place 41.7Attainment 8
Clayton Hall Academy
2.5 km · Staffordshire

Good2024

1.9applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
Thistley Hough Academy
3.0 km · Stoke-on-Trent

2026

1.9applications per place 43.7Attainment 8
The Orme Academy
3.1 km · Staffordshire

Good2024

1.8applications per place 42.7Attainment 8
St Joseph's College
3.6 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.9applications per place 63.6Attainment 8 Selective
Chesterton Community Sports College
3.9 km · Staffordshire

2026

1.6applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Trentham Academy
5.0 km · Stoke-on-Trent

2026

3.3applications per place 46.0Attainment 8
St Peter's CofE Academy
5.2 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 34.2Attainment 8

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: 142277 · 860/4096
Trust: Windsor Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 647 pupils · 441 on roll
Free school meals: 40.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 October 2015
Replaced: NCHS The Science College (URN 124413)
Address: Gallowstree Lane, The Westlands, Newcastle Under Lyme, ST5 2QS
Local authority: Staffordshire · Newcastle-under-Lyme

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