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Academy sponsor led · Dudley

The Link Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,013Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 144952URN

Simms Lane, Netherton, Dudley, DY2 0PB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected May 2026

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

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.8per place
0.5 below Dudley median (2.3)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Dudley

357 applications for 196 places · 16th of 19 in Dudley
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
44.2of 90
9th of 19 in Dudley
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 19 May 2026Published 21 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceStrong 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. 19 May 2026
    Report card · 4 Strong standard, 2 Expected standard
  2. 8 February 2022
    Graded inspection: 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
1.8applications per place, Year 7
0.5 below Dudley median (2.3) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

357 applications · 196 places offered · 174 named it first

  1. 2026 1.8; Dudley median median 2.3
  2. 2025 1.7; Dudley median median 2.1
  3. 2024 1.7; Dudley median median 2.1
  4. 2023 1.5; Dudley median median 2.2
  5. 2022 1.6; Dudley median median 2.4
  6. 2021 1.5; Dudley median median 2.1
  7. 2020 1.5; Dudley median median 2.2
  8. 2019 1.4; Dudley median median 2.1
  9. 2018 1.6; Dudley median median 2.2
  10. 2017 1.6; Dudley median median 2.4; as the previous school
  11. 2016 1.9; Dudley median median 2.3; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.7; Dudley median median 2.3; as the previous school
  13. 2014 1.7; Dudley median median 2.4; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Dudley median in 0 of 9 years.
  • This school
  • Dudley median

Dashed bars: as The Hillcrest School and Community College (URN 103863), 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261963571.81740.89
Sep 20252043441.71960.96
Sep 20242023421.71870.93
Sep 20232063111.51870.91
Sep 20221712691.61440.84
Sep 20212013091.51760.88
Sep 20201712521.51410.82
Sep 20191902591.41430.75
Sep 20181652651.61260.76
Sep 2017 *1933021.61700.88
Sep 2016 *2093961.92151.03
Sep 2015 *2043491.72051.00
Sep 2014 *1903231.71680.88

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

202 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.29th of 19 in Dudley
Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%4th of 19 in Dudley
Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%
  • This school
  • Dudley median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.02
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20244.248%65%–
2024/2519540.433%57%–
2023/2417739.834%51%−0.02
2022/2316939.433%52%+0.06

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
144952 · 332/4003
Trust
Dudley Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,050 pupils · 1,013 on roll
Free school meals
51.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2017
Replaced
The Hillcrest School and Community College (URN 103863)
Address
Simms Lane, Netherton, Dudley, DY2 0PB
Local authority
Dudley

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