School Chooser

The King's CofE Academy

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademyChurch of England732 pupilsSixth formStoke-on-TrentStaffordshire
School Chooser Score
18
Below
similar schools
Likely range 13 to 25
Out of 100. Better than 28% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, March 2024
Strong pass in English and maths27%England 46%
Attendance89.8%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families37%Far more than most schools
Places18 spare732 pupils, 750 places
Pupils per teacher15.0School workforce census

The King's CofE Academy is a converter academy in Stoke-on-Trent for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 732 pupils and room for 750. About 37 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 18 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 28% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.

First Avenue, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 1DP01782 783281thekingscofeacademy.orgMrs E Postlethwaite headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 6 March 2024 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

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

Average GCSE score40.1
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths27%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths49%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.72In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind 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: 40.940.920182019: 44.044.020192022: 47.147.120222023: 39.539.520232024: 38.238.220242025: 40.140.12025
Since 2018: -0.8Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure20252024202320222019†2018†StaffordshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11152138146937280
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 840.138.239.547.144.040.944.046.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.72-0.62-0.25-0.16-0.59
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths27%26%27%40%35%28%38%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths49%53%46%58%61%53%61%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.203.023.053.843.643.673.774.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry2%4%5%46%35%63%32%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged35.330.734.340.440.438.7
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged42.141.441.949.845.942.3
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers23.127.132.220.2
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers57.751.360.753.350.8

† These results are for The King's CofE (VA) School, the school this one replaced in April 2021. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Subjects

Results came out for 14 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.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: French (29% here, 60% across England), Religious Studies (36% here, 60% across England), History (33% here, 52% across England), Mathematics (35% here, 53% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, music.
LanguagesFrench17

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

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics148 entries · 43rd of 55 in Staffordshire
35%England 53%
English Literature148 entries · 40th of 55 in Staffordshire
43%England 58%
English Language148 entries · 40th of 55 in Staffordshire
40%England 54%
Religious Studies131 entries · 29th of 31 in Staffordshire
36%England 60%
Combined Science131 entries · 43rd of 55 in Staffordshire
19%England 36%
History98 entries · 44th of 53 in Staffordshire
33%England 52%
Geography33 entries · 19th of 54 in Staffordshire
46%England 51%
Art and Design29 entries · 31st of 45 in Staffordshire
55%England 58%
Biology17 entries
65%England 82%
French17 entries
29%England 60%
Physics15 entries
67%England 82%
Chemistry15 entries
67%England 81%
Music11 entries
82%England 61%
Drama10 entries
0%England 60%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics14811%35%57%53%2,780 of 3,211
English Literature14810%43%66%58%2,557 of 3,202
English Language14811%40%55%54%2,569 of 3,210
Religious Studies13111%36%53%60%1,660 of 1,825
Combined Science1313%19%41%36%2,665 of 3,084
History9811%33%47%52%2,665 of 3,126
Geography3321%46%64%51%1,705 of 3,116
Art and Design2924%55%76%58%1,592 of 2,818
Biology1729%65%82%82%
French1724%29%35%60%
Physics1527%67%73%82%
Chemistry1520%67%93%81%
Music1146%82%100%61%
Drama100%0%20%60%

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

28 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeD+23.6 points per entry
A level progress-0.89Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
Stayed and finished100%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure2025202420232022
Students28183025
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry23.5728.75
Average A level gradeD+C
A level progressA level value added-0.89
Applied general courses: points per entry31.6834.1733.0835.15
T levels: points per entry32.50
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed100%

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. 2 of the 3 gaps are 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
35.342.1
Gap 6.8England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
23%29%
Gap 6 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
37.443.6
Gap 6.2England 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

Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

A few spare places740 pupils for 785 places, 2024/25
94% full

About 45 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Staffordshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

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 roll732Census January 2026
Places75098% full
Pupils from low-income families36%37% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English5%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support17%125 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%28 pupils with a plan
Average class size18.536 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils11%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)37%£269,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls363 / 369
White British pupils88%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (42), Moderate learning difficulty (33), Specific learning difficulty (25), Autistic spectrum disorder (20), language and communications needs (14), Hearing impairment (6).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census20262025202420232022
Pupils on roll732746765757713
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals36%34%31%28%25%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language5%5%4%3%3%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support12%13%11%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%3%3%3%

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 school29.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils22.32024/25, 4 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission3.8%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21†2018/19†England
Sessions missedOverall absence10.2%10.2%10.5%10.5%6.8%5.8%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.4%6.1%7.1%7.3%5.1%4.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence3.8%4.2%3.3%3.2%1.6%1.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence29.2%32.7%35.5%36.1%21.1%19.0%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate22.314.410.49.35.5
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions45410

† These attendance figures are for The King's CofE (VA) School, the school this one replaced in April 2021. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 146 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training87%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 89%, compared with 86% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training87%88%88%95%
Education75%75%78%88%
Apprenticeship7%7%5%4%
Work5%7%6%3%
Not in education, work or training12%7%11%5%

After sixth form

Where the 30 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training70%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 40%, compared with 85% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training71%England 72%
Top-third universities0%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship3%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers
Still in education, work or training70%82%
Education23%55%
Apprenticeship3%0%
Work43%27%
Not in education, work or training23%5%

Staff and money

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

Teachers48.8full-time equivalent, 51 people
Pupils per teacher15.0Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers98%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants15.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£55,349
Teachers who left in the year10%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher7.52024/25

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£8,301England £7,965. Total £6.2m
Income per pupil£8,677England £8,423. Total £6.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,780England £4,444
Money in reserve-9%In the red: -£579k, -£775 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£281kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,301spent 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 m29512 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate87 per 1,000 peopleabout the England average
Typical house price£195,000Newcastle-under-Lyme
Nearest bus stop190 mFifth Avenue, 15 stops within 500 m

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
Kidsgrove Secondary SchoolAcademy0.8 miles394Good 202321Compare
Ormiston Horizon AcademyAcademy2.2 miles1,029Good 20238Compare
St Margaret Ward Catholic AcademyAcademy2.3 miles1,143Report card 202635Compare
Co-op Academy Stoke-On-TrentAcademy2.8 miles1,300Good 202339Compare
Haywood AcademyAcademy3.2 miles1,080Good 202312Compare
Alsager SchoolAcademy3.2 miles1,528Good 202372Compare
Chesterton Community Sports CollegeAcademy3.2 miles915Good 202232Compare
James Bateman Middle SchoolAcademy3.2 miles373Good 202318Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares The King's CofE 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.

Beats28%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 18 is 9 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 2 · middle 27 · highest 75100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 18 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 18% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 13 to 25. 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
-0.18
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 152 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 2.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%well below
-0.26
DfE progress measure; 152 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
-0.01
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.05
2024/25; 698 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.08
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 152 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.04
146 pupils
What parents say0%no data

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 The King's CofE Academy a good school?

The figures are weak. The King's CofE Academy scores 18 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 28% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 13 to 25, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is The King's CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated The King's CofE Academy good at its last full inspection on 6 March 2024.

How good are The King's CofE Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 27% 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 40.1, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does The King's CofE Academy have?

732 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 750 places, so it is 98% full.

Is The King's CofE Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 45 places were empty in 2024/25 (6% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at The King's CofE Academy?

Pupils were in school 89.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 29% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at The King's CofE Academy?

The average class had 18.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 11% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does The King's CofE Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was D+.

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

Contact and details

Address
First Avenue, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 1DP
Telephone
01782 783281
Website
www.thekingscofeacademy.org
Headteacher
Mrs E Postlethwaite
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Lichfield
Multi-academy trust
Three Spires Trust (7 schools)
Local authority
Staffordshire
Ward
Kidsgrove & Ravenscliffe
Constituency
Stoke-on-Trent North
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 April 2021 (academy converter)
URN
148402 · LAESTAB 8604012 · UKPRN 10087514
Formerly
The King's CofE (VA) School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from