School Chooser

Westwood College

Secondary · ages 13-18MixedAcademy735 pupilsSixth formLeekStaffordshire
School Chooser Score
20
Below
similar schools
Likely range 15 to 26
Out of 100. Better than 4% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedRequires improvementLast Ofsted inspection, May 2024
Strong pass in English and maths40%England 46%
Attendance89.6%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families16%Far fewer than most schools
Places176 spare735 pupils, 911 places
Pupils per teacher17.5School workforce census

Westwood College is a converter academy in Leek for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. It has 735 pupils and room for 911. About 16 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 20 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 4% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was requires improvement, back in 2024.

Westwood Park, Leek, ST13 8NP01538 370930wwc.ttlt.org.ukMiss Susan Atkinson head teacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 21 May 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Requires improvement overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Requires improvement
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Requires improvement
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Requires improvement
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Requires improvement
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

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

Average GCSE score44.2
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths40%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths66%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.13In each subject, pupils here finished a little 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: 44.944.920182019: 49.049.020192022: 46.046.020222023: 44.344.320232024: 44.644.620242025: 44.244.22025
Since 2018: -0.7Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018StaffordshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11197189189172178190
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 844.244.644.346.049.044.944.046.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.13-0.44-0.30+0.10-0.01
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths40%43%40%41%44%38%38%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths66%70%66%69%73%59%61%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score4.043.903.904.034.483.993.774.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry49%40%42%42%55%56%32%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged31.528.231.831.038.435.4
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged45.947.147.248.250.046.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers26.423.528.723.027.0
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers63.265.263.461.559.8

Subjects

Results came out for 20 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

Biology100%grades 9 to 5, England 82% · 298th of 2,570 schools
Physics96%grades 9 to 5, England 82% · 682nd of 2,546 schools
German77%grades 9 to 5, England 63% · 187th of 571 schools
Geography59%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 873rd of 3,116 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Computer Science (25% here, 56% across England), Media / Film / TV (38% here, 55% across England), Physical Education (39% here, 56% across England), Religious Studies (48% here, 60% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 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
Mathematics195 entries · 24th of 55 in Staffordshire
47%England 53%
English Language195 entries · 25th of 55 in Staffordshire
49%England 54%
English Literature194 entries · 31st of 55 in Staffordshire
48%England 58%
Combined Science166 entries · 15th of 55 in Staffordshire
37%England 36%
Geography91 entries · 8th of 54 in Staffordshire
59%England 51%
History75 entries · 15th of 53 in Staffordshire
57%England 52%
Business59 entries · 19th of 29 in Staffordshire
41%England 51%
Physical Education56 entries · 22nd of 25 in Staffordshire
39%England 56%
Religious Studies50 entries · 20th of 31 in Staffordshire
48%England 60%
Media / Film / TV48 entries · 4th of 4 in Staffordshire
38%England 55%
German47 entries · 3rd of 10 in Staffordshire
77%England 63%
Design & Technology45 entries · 7th of 28 in Staffordshire
58%England 50%
Art and Design44 entries · 34th of 45 in Staffordshire
48%England 58%
Spanish41 entries · 4th of 15 in Staffordshire
61%England 54%
Drama35 entries · 5th of 7 in Staffordshire
60%England 60%
French31 entries · 9th of 25 in Staffordshire
65%England 60%
Physics27 entries · 7th of 36 in Staffordshire
96%England 82%
Chemistry27 entries · 15th of 36 in Staffordshire
89%England 81%
Biology27 entries · 4th of 37 in Staffordshire
100%England 82%
Computer Science24 entries · 19th of 25 in Staffordshire
25%England 56%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics19515%47%72%53%1,947 of 3,211
English Language19511%49%69%54%1,880 of 3,210
English Literature19413%48%66%58%2,176 of 3,202
Combined Science16611%37%55%36%1,286 of 3,084
Geography9128%59%74%51%873 of 3,116
History7527%57%65%52%1,096 of 3,126
Business5917%41%59%51%1,145 of 1,806
Physical Education5616%39%54%56%1,189 of 1,559
Religious Studies5016%48%56%60%1,392 of 1,825
Media / Film / TV488%38%50%55%474 of 580
German4719%77%83%63%187 of 571
Design & Technology4529%58%67%50%528 of 1,478
Art and Design4411%48%73%58%1,937 of 2,818
Spanish4110%61%71%54%758 of 1,941
Drama3514%60%83%60%484 of 844
French3129%65%74%60%923 of 1,974
Physics2744%96%100%82%682 of 2,546
Chemistry2741%89%100%81%1,162 of 2,537
Biology2748%100%100%82%298 of 2,570
Computer Science2413%25%50%56%1,681 of 1,861

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

112 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+33.3 points per entry
A level progress+0.04Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better13%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished91%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students112122119126206202
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry33.2928.2429.1334.3729.6131.40
Average A level gradeC+C-CC+CC
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS34.7328.4928.9934.7229.6330.95
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects13%3%14%12%6%19%
A level progressA level value added+0.04-0.25-0.31-0.14
Applied general courses: points per entry29.1725.7525.7935.38
T levels: points per entry40.71
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed91%19%87%95%81%86%

A level subjects

16 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

Design and Technology (Product Design)57%A* to B, England 38% · 14 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics23History21Geography21Sociology18Psychology16English Literature15Design and Technology (Product Design)14Biology12English Language11Chemistry9Physics7Physical Education / Sports Studies6Fine Art6Drama and Theatre Studies6Media / Film / TV Studies6Photography5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics23 entries · 22% A* or A · 96% passed
52%England 60%
History21 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
29%England 55%
Geography21 entries · 19% A* or A · 95% passed
48%England 51%
Sociology18 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
44%England 49%
Psychology16 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
44%England 46%
English Literature15 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
40%England 52%
Design and Technology (Product Design)14 entries · 21% A* or A · 100% passed
57%England 38%
Biology12 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
58%England 49%
English Language11 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
18%England 44%
Chemistry9 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
78%England 53%
Physics7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 51%
Physical Education / Sports Studies6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 41%
Fine Art6 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
83%England 65%
Drama and Theatre Studies6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 54%
Media / Film / TV Studies6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 46%
Photography5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 58%

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. None of the gaps 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
31.545.9
Gap 14.4England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
13%44%
Gap 31 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
41.647.9
Gap 6.3England 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.

Plenty of spare places765 pupils for 911 places, 2024/25
84% full

146 places were empty (16% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 3% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

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 roll735Census January 2026
Places91181% full
Pupils from low-income families14%16% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English2%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support11%78 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%21 pupils with a plan
Average class size20.734 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils6%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)16%£100,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls389 / 346
White British pupils94%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (35), emotional and mental health (22), Specific learning difficulty (22), Autistic spectrum disorder (10), Physical disability (5), language and communications needs (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll735770784779798817
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals14%13%12%11%10%11%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language2%3%3%2%2%2%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support9%7%6%5%5%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%2%1%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 89.6% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance89.6%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school26.0%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils18.42024/25, 4 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission3.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence10.4%10.7%11.6%11.1%6.0%6.8%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence7.1%7.9%9.1%8.9%4.7%5.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence3.4%2.8%2.5%2.2%1.4%1.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence26.0%28.4%35.2%36.8%16.3%17.8%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate18.422.212.114.73.9
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions42420

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 189 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training92%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 86%, compared with 94% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training92%95%93%99%
Education81%87%86%93%
Apprenticeship7%5%5%3%
Work4%3%2%2%
Not in education, work or training5%5%6%1%

After sixth form

Where the 112 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 71%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training66%England 72%
Top-third universities11%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship11%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 69% went on to degree-level study or training and 6% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training88%90%88%
Education42%53%50%
Apprenticeship11%9%9%0%
Work35%28%29%
Not in education, work or training10%6%7%

Staff and money

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

Teachers42.1full-time equivalent, 47 people
Pupils per teacher17.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers98%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants10.7full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£60,546
Teachers who left in the year18%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher7.42024/25

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£6,769England £7,965. Total £5.2m
Income per pupil£7,192England £8,423. Total £5.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,180England £4,444
Money in reserve8%Not much put by: £438k, £569 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£326kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,769spent 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 m2912 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate40 per 1,000 people56% lower than the England average
Typical house price£226,500Staffordshire Moorlands
Nearest bus stop100 mWestwood College, 4 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
St Edward's Church of England AcademyAcademy710 m662No overall grade 202461Compare
Churnet View Middle SchoolAcademy1.8 miles440Not inspected13Compare
Leek High SchoolAcademy1.8 miles261Requires improvement 20249Compare
Endon High SchoolAcademy3.4 miles700Good 202372Compare
Woodhouse AcademyAcademy4.8 miles402Good 202373Compare
Biddulph High SchoolAcademy4.9 miles746Good 202224Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Westwood College 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.

Beats4%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 20 is 39 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 2 · middle 58 · highest 96100

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 Westwood College, 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
St Edward's Church of England AcademyAcademy710 m662No overall grade 202461Compare
Christ Church AcademyAcademy14.0 miles540Report card 202658Compare
Walton Priory Middle SchoolCouncil15.3 miles542No overall grade 202572Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 20 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 20% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 15 to 26. 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%in line
-0.03
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 197 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well below
-0.43
Ofsted grade, 2.3 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.02
DfE progress measure; 197 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.00
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.03
2024/25; 607 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.06
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 197 pupils
What pupils do next5%in line
+0.01
189 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 Westwood College a good school?

The figures are weak. Westwood College scores 20 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 4% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 15 to 26, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Westwood College's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Westwood College requires improvement at its last full inspection on 21 May 2024.

How good are Westwood College's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 40% 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 44.2, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Westwood College have?

735 pupils aged 13 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 911 places, so it is 81% full.

Is Westwood College oversubscribed?

Probably not. 146 places were empty in 2024/25 (16% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Westwood College?

Pupils were in school 89.6% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 26% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Westwood College?

The average class had 20.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 6% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Westwood College have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 16 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
Westwood Park, Leek, ST13 8NP
Telephone
01538 370930
Website
wwc.ttlt.org.uk
Head Teacher
Miss Susan Atkinson
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 13-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
The Talentum Learning Trust (9 schools)
Local authority
Staffordshire
Ward
Leek West
Constituency
Staffordshire Moorlands
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 April 2016 (academy converter)
URN
142755 · LAESTAB 8604086 · UKPRN 10056069
Formerly
Westwood College

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from