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Academy converter · Stoke-on-Trent

Birches Head Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 925Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 148220URN

Birches Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Serious weaknesses

Report card · inspected Jun 2026

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

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.3per place
0.6 below Stoke-on-Trent median (1.9)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Stoke-on-TrentSelective

164 applications for 129 places · 15th of 15 in Stoke-on-Trent
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
33.0of 90
14th of 14 in Stoke-on-Trent
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Serious weaknesses

Report card · inspected 23 June 2026Published 19 July 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
  • 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. 23 June 2026
    Report card · 6 Needs attention
  2. 3 October 2023
    Graded inspection: Inadequate

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
0.6 below Stoke-on-Trent median (1.9) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

164 applications · 129 places offered · 69 named it first

  1. 2026 1.3; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  2. 2025 1.1; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  3. 2024 1.4; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  4. 2023 1.5; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
  5. 2022 1.5; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0
  6. 2021 1.6; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1
  7. 2020 1.5; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.1; as the previous school
  8. 2019 0.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9; as the previous school
  9. 2018 1.0; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0; as the previous school
  10. 2017 1.6; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0; as the previous school
  11. 2016 2.0; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.8; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9; as the previous school
  13. 2014 1.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Stoke-on-Trent median in 0 of 6 years.
  • This school
  • Stoke-on-Trent median

Dashed bars: as Birches Head Academy (URN 124390), 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 20261291641.3690.53
Sep 20251892151.1860.46
Sep 20241972811.41270.64
Sep 20231962981.51370.70
Sep 20222153221.51670.78
Sep 20212093411.61630.78
Sep 2020 *2083121.51210.58
Sep 2019 *2642430.91210.46
Sep 2018 *2091991.0840.40
Sep 2017 *1292091.6890.69
Sep 2016 *1122182.01010.90
Sep 2015 *1272341.81100.87
Sep 2014 *1352511.91190.88

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

183 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)33.014th of 14 in Stoke-on-Trent
Grade 5 or above in English and maths20%13th of 14 in Stoke-on-Trent
Grade 4 or above in English and maths42%
  • This school
  • Stoke-on-Trent median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.95
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)18333.020%42%–
2024/2519931.317%39%–
2023/2421030.216%32%−0.95
2022/2317930.815%35%−0.87

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
148220 · 861/4046
Trust
Frank Field Education Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,040 pupils · 925 on roll
Free school meals
41.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 December 2020
Replaced
Birches Head Academy (URN 124390)
Address
Birches Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD
Local authority
Stoke-on-Trent

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