School Chooser

Joseph Leckie Academy

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,524 pupilsSixth formWalsall
School Chooser Score
38
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 29 to 48
Out of 100. Better than 38% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedAs expected teachingOfsted report card, February 2026
Strong pass in English and maths31%England 46%
Attendance89.8%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families54%Far more than most schools
Parents would recommend81%47 Parent View responses
PlacesFull1,524 pupils, 1,414 places

Joseph Leckie Academy is a converter academy in Walsall for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,524 pupils, 110 more than it has places for. About 54 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 38 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 38% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in February 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Walstead Road West, Walsall, WS5 4PG01922 721071josephleckieacademy.co.ukMr Andrew McNaughton principalAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 3 February 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
As expected
Achievement
As expected
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
As expected
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Strong
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Strong
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
As expected
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
As expected
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
12 October 2021Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1Good

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

249 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score42.4
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths31%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths55%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.11In each subject, pupils here finished a little ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 40.540.520182019: 44.144.120192022: 46.446.420222023: 42.342.320232024: 43.743.720242025: 42.442.42025
Since 2018: +1.9Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018WalsallEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11249237234229201187
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 842.443.742.346.444.140.543.646.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.11+0.08+0.36+0.46+0.24
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths31%42%32%41%31%25%39%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths55%60%51%64%58%54%57%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.793.833.543.893.643.313.824.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry50%35%34%34%34%31%35%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged39.238.439.144.941.540.3
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged46.246.745.047.546.340.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers26.529.437.327.429.1
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers66.960.472.962.356.9

Subjects

Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Religious Studies76%grades 9 to 5, England 60% · 462nd of 1,825 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Drama (20% here, 60% across England), French (29% here, 60% across England), Art and Design (27% here, 58% across England), German (35% here, 63% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics248 entries · 13th of 19 in Walsall
36%England 53%
English Language247 entries · 6th of 19 in Walsall
44%England 54%
English Literature243 entries · 9th of 19 in Walsall
47%England 58%
Combined Science182 entries · 7th of 17 in Walsall
25%England 36%
History164 entries · 5th of 18 in Walsall
51%England 52%
Geography107 entries · 7th of 18 in Walsall
42%England 51%
French97 entries · 11th of 11 in Walsall
29%England 60%
Design & Technology71 entries · 3rd of 5 in Walsall
48%England 50%
Art and Design70 entries · 12th of 14 in Walsall
27%England 58%
Biology65 entries · 12th of 13 in Walsall
62%England 82%
Chemistry64 entries · 10th of 13 in Walsall
67%England 81%
Physics64 entries · 10th of 13 in Walsall
64%England 82%
Religious Studies49 entries · 3rd of 13 in Walsall
76%England 60%
Social Studies42 entries · 5th of 10 in Walsall
62%England 54%
Computer Science32 entries · 4th of 10 in Walsall
56%England 56%
Media / Film / TV25 entries · 3rd of 3 in Walsall
28%England 55%
Drama25 entries · 2nd of 2 in Walsall
20%England 60%
German17 entries
35%England 63%
0%England 49%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics24817%36%59%53%2,726 of 3,211
English Language2479%44%65%54%2,300 of 3,210
English Literature24311%47%68%58%2,289 of 3,202
Combined Science1827%25%41%36%2,276 of 3,084
History16420%51%63%52%1,514 of 3,126
Geography10714%42%54%51%1,966 of 3,116
French971%29%39%60%1,827 of 1,974
Design & Technology7116%48%59%50%744 of 1,478
Art and Design701%27%57%58%2,580 of 2,818
Biology6525%62%75%82%2,216 of 2,570
Chemistry6430%67%81%81%2,029 of 2,537
Physics6431%64%72%82%2,127 of 2,546
Religious Studies4935%76%82%60%462 of 1,825
Social Studies4231%62%88%54%365 of 1,043
Computer Science329%56%78%56%863 of 1,861
Media / Film / TV254%28%40%55%541 of 580
Drama258%20%36%60%810 of 844
German170%35%59%63%
Other Modern Languages140%0%0%49%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

113 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+32.1 points per entry
A level progress+0.07Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better3%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished97%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students113123128136227221
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry32.1431.2328.6431.5221.8822.82
Average A level gradeC+CCCD+D+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS33.6833.1630.0033.9221.9021.76
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects3%18%9%12%3%2%
A level progressA level value added+0.07-0.03-0.43-0.12
Applied general courses: points per entry29.4429.7532.1434.37
T levels: points per entry33.0831.3333.0837.05
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed97%100%97%87%90%79%

A level subjects

11 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Psychology80%A* to B, England 46% · 15 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics23Sociology16Biology16Chemistry15Psychology15History14Business Studies11Design and Technology (Product Design)9Computer Science7Government and Politics7English Literature5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics23 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
35%England 60%
Sociology16 entries · 13% A* or A · 94% passed
56%England 49%
Biology16 entries · 6% A* or A · 100% passed
38%England 49%
Chemistry15 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 53%
Psychology15 entries · 47% A* or A · 100% passed
80%England 46%
History14 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
21%England 55%
Business Studies11 entries · 9% A* or A · 100% passed
27%England 47%
Design and Technology (Product Design)9 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 38%
Computer Science7 entries · 0% A* or A · 86% passed
0%England 46%
Government and Politics7 entries · 43% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 55%
English Literature5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 52%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
39.246.2
Gap 7.0England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
24%38%
Gap 13 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
41.643.3
Gap 1.7England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Full1,517 pupils for 1,500 places, 2024/25
101% full

The school is full, with 17 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 7% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (299 offers for 240 places). 215 families put it down as their first choice and 215 of them got in (100%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary240215417299100%all offeredLA

What parents say

Would recommend the school81%England 77%
My child is happy here81%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe77%
Positive overall73%
My child is happy at this school
81%England 75%
My child feels safe at this school
77%England 79%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
81%England 71%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
21% yesEngland 26%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
30%England 48%
My child gets the right support to learn well
77%England 71%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
21% yesEngland 31%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
70%England 58%
The school communicates well with me
83%England 71%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
60%England 58%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
75%England 67%
I would recommend this school
81%England 77%
Overall view of the school is positive
73%England 67%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 47 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,524Census January 2026
Places1,414108% full
Pupils from low-income families52%54% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English70%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support9%135 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%35 pupils with a plan
Average class size20.665 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)53%£751,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls748 / 776
White British pupils9%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (73), emotional and mental health (49), language and communications needs (25), Autistic spectrum disorder (11), Specific learning difficulty (3), Vision impairment (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,5241,5201,5161,4581,4021,426
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals52%50%44%42%40%35%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language70%67%67%65%65%69%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support13%15%14%14%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%3%2%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 89.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance89.8%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school31.1%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils6.32024/25, 6 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission4.2%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence10.2%9.4%9.1%9.1%7.6%6.0%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.0%5.9%6.3%6.3%5.3%4.0%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence4.2%3.5%2.8%2.8%2.3%2.0%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence31.1%30.6%29.9%31.1%22.6%17.5%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate6.323.218.523.017.3
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions6106510

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 234 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training88%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 85%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training88%91%88%92%
Education88%89%86%89%
Apprenticeship0%0%0%0%
Work2%2%2%
Not in education, work or training9%6%10%6%

After sixth form

Where the 103 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training85%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 83%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training79%England 72%
Top-third universities15%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship6%England 6%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 72% went on to degree-level study or training and 18% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training85%83%77%
Education70%66%68%
Apprenticeship6%4%2%1%
Work9%13%7%
Not in education, work or training12%14%14%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers98.2full-time equivalent, 102 people
Pupils per teacher15.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers99%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants29.3full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£48,429
Teachers who left in the year17%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher9.12024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£8,549England £7,965. Total £13m
Income per pupil£8,269England £8,423. Total £13m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,560England £4,444
Money in reserve23%A lot put by: £2.9m, £1,929 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out-£425kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£8,549spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m38412 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate94 per 1,000 peopleabout the England average
Typical house price£221,288Walsall

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Wood Green AcademyAcademy1.0 miles1,518Good 202052Compare
Stuart Bathurst Catholic High SchoolAcademy1.0 miles807Good 202421Compare
Queen Mary's Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)1.1 miles1,399Outstanding 202398Compare
Blue Coat Church of England AcademyAcademy1.1 miles972Good 202335Compare
Walsall Studio SchoolStudio schools1.2 miles206No overall grade 20254Compare
Wodensborough Ormiston AcademyAcademy1.4 miles1,119Report card 202519Compare
West Walsall E-ACT AcademyAcademy1.7 miles1,186Good 202345Compare
Q3 Academy Great BarrAcademy1.7 miles1,153Good 202240Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Joseph Leckie Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats38%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 38 is 13 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 51 · highest 93100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Joseph Leckie Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Holyhead SchoolAcademy4.4 miles1,257Good 202054Compare
Broadway AcademyAcademy5.1 miles1,222Good 202244Compare
Shireland Collegiate AcademyAcademy5.6 miles1,585No overall grade 202472Compare
Washwood Heath AcademyAcademy8.6 miles1,668Good 202055Compare
Starbank SchoolAcademy8.9 miles2,161Good 202374Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 38 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 38% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 29 to 48. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.10
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 249 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
-0.01
Ofsted report card, 0.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.04
DfE progress measure; 249 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
-0.01
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.04
2024/25; 1,343 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.05
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 249 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.03
234 pupils
What parents say5%in line
+0.01
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 47 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Joseph Leckie Academy a good school?

It is about average. Joseph Leckie Academy scores 38 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 38% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 29 to 48, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Joseph Leckie Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 3 February 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.

How good are Joseph Leckie Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 31% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 42.4, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished a little ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Joseph Leckie Academy have?

1,524 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,414 places, so it is 108% full.

Is Joseph Leckie Academy oversubscribed?

Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 17 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.

What is attendance like at Joseph Leckie Academy?

Pupils were in school 89.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 31% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about Joseph Leckie Academy?

81% of the 47 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 81% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at Joseph Leckie Academy?

The average class had 20.6 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does Joseph Leckie Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 11 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Walstead Road West, Walsall, WS5 4PG
Telephone
01922 721071
Website
www.josephleckieacademy.co.uk
Principal
Mr Andrew McNaughton
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
The Forge Brook Trust (5 schools)
Local authority
Walsall
Ward
Palfrey
Constituency
Walsall and Bloxwich
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 February 2012 (academy converter)
URN
137830 · LAESTAB 3354007 · UKPRN 10036183
Formerly
Joseph Leckie Community Technology College

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from