Academy converter · Shropshire

The Grove School

11–18Ages
856Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
146580URN

Newcastle Road, Market Drayton, TF9 1HF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2023 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

0.5 below Shropshire median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Shropshire

190 applications for 150 places · 17th of 18 in Shropshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.2of 90

Shropshire 41.9 England 46.0

16th of 20 in Shropshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 25 April 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Sixth form 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

1.3applications per place, Year 7

0.5 below Shropshire median (1.8) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

190 applications · 150 places offered · 138 named it first

2026 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.8
2025 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.6
2024 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.6
2023 1.2; Shropshire median median 1.6
2022 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.6
2021 1.1; Shropshire median median 1.5
2020 1.1; Shropshire median median 1.7
2019 1.0; Shropshire median median 1.5
2018 1.2; Shropshire median median 1.4; as the previous school
2017 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.5; as the previous school
2016 1.2; Shropshire median median 1.4; as the previous school
2015 1.1; Shropshire median median 1.4; as the previous school
2014 1.1; Shropshire median median 1.3; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Shropshire median in 0 of 8 years.

This school
Shropshire median

Dashed bars: as The Grove School (URN 123580), 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	150	190	1.3	138	0.92
Sep 2025	150	193	1.3	138	0.92
Sep 2024	130	169	1.3	120	0.92
Sep 2023	131	157	1.2	109	0.83
Sep 2022	137	179	1.3	130	0.95
Sep 2021	160	173	1.1	135	0.84
Sep 2020	164	181	1.1	130	0.79
Sep 2019	174	178	1.0	129	0.74
Sep 2018 *	160	184	1.2	151	0.94
Sep 2017 *	138	177	1.3	127	0.92
Sep 2016 *	164	199	1.2	151	0.92
Sep 2015 *	146	162	1.1	131	0.90
Sep 2014 *	150	163	1.1	133	0.89

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

161 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.216th of 20 in Shropshire

Shropshire 41.9 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%16th of 20 in Shropshire

Shropshire 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths53%

Shropshire 58% England 66%

This school
Shropshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.48

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	161	38.2	28%	53%	–
2024/25	142	39.5	28%	55%	–
2023/24	159	38.1	25%	53%	−0.48
2022/23	142	43.0	37%	62%	−0.42

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

The Grove SchoolThis school
This school

Requires improvement2023

1.3applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Madeley High School
14.1 km · Staffordshire

Improved significantly2025

2.0applications per place 48.6Attainment 8
Sir John Talbot's School
14.6 km · Shropshire

Good2023

1.7applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
Haberdashers' Adams
16.5 km · Telford and Wrekin

Good2022

4.1applications per place 73.9Attainment 8 Selective
Brine Leas School
17.0 km · Cheshire East

2026

2.3applications per place 50.2Attainment 8
Newport Girls' High School Academy
17.1 km · Telford and Wrekin

Outstanding2022

3.7applications per place 74.4Attainment 8 Selective
The Burton Borough School
17.2 km · Telford and Wrekin

Requires improvement2021

1.6applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
The Thomas Adams School
17.8 km · Shropshire

Good2023

2.2applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
Shavington Academy
18.0 km · Cheshire East

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 44.2Attainment 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: 146580 · 893/4423
Trust: Marches Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,206 pupils · 856 on roll
Free school meals: 30.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 December 2018
Replaced: The Grove School (URN 123580)
Address: Newcastle Road, Market Drayton, TF9 1HF
Local authority: Shropshire

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