Free schools · Blackpool

Armfield Academy

3–16Ages
1,221Pupils
All-throughPhase
145863URN

488 Lytham Road, Blackpool, FY4 1TL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

0.5 above Blackpool median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackpool

345 applications for 159 places · 3rd of 8 in Blackpool

Every year since 2019

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

34.2of 90

Blackpool 35.2 England 46.0

7th of 8 in Blackpool

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 7 February 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
Early years provision		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

0.5 above Blackpool median (1.6) close to England median (2.2)

345 applications · 159 places offered · 180 named it first

2026 2.2; Blackpool median median 1.6
2025 2.5; Blackpool median median 1.7
2024 2.0; Blackpool median median 1.7
2023 2.3; Blackpool median median 1.8
2022 2.2; Blackpool median median 1.7
2021 2.6; Blackpool median median 2.0
2020 3.0; Blackpool median median 2.2
2019 2.8; Blackpool median median 2.1

More applications per place than the Blackpool median in 8 of 8 years.

This school
Blackpool median

Reception entry, September 2026: 1.9 per place (111 applications for 59 places).

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

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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	159	345	2.2	180	1.13
Sep 2025	159	394	2.5	209	1.31
Sep 2024	158	314	2.0	135	0.85
Sep 2023	160	364	2.3	186	1.16
Sep 2022	157	350	2.2	182	1.16
Sep 2021	161	423	2.6	222	1.38
Sep 2020	158	466	3.0	228	1.44
Sep 2019	160	451	2.8	266	1.66

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

153 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)34.27th of 8 in Blackpool

Blackpool 35.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths17%7th of 8 in Blackpool

Blackpool 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths45%

Blackpool 49% England 66%

This school
Blackpool median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.11

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	153	34.2	17%	45%	–
2024/25	152	35.6	20%	45%	–
2023/24	151	35.2	23%	38%	−1.11
2022/23	158	36.1	27%	48%	−1.01

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

Armfield AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

2.2applications per place 34.2Attainment 8
South Shore Academy
0.8 km · Blackpool

Special measures Inadequate2023

1.2applications per place 34.4Attainment 8
Highfield Leadership Academy
1.2 km · Blackpool

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 35.2Attainment 8
St George's School A Church of England Academy
2.4 km · Blackpool

Improved significantly2025

2.6applications per place 55.4Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic Academy
4.5 km · Blackpool

2026

2.2applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
Unity Academy Blackpool
5.2 km · Blackpool

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 27.9Attainment 8
Blackpool Aspire Academy
5.7 km · Blackpool

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
Lytham St Annes High School
5.7 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2022

1.8applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
Baines School
6.3 km · Lancashire

2026

2.6applications per place 47.4Attainment 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: Free schools
Phase: All-through
URN · DfE number: 145863 · 890/4005
Trust: Fylde Coast Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,220 pupils · 1,221 on roll
Free school meals: 39.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2018
Address: 488 Lytham Road, Blackpool, FY4 1TL
Local authority: Blackpool

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