Birches Head Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Birches Head Academy has created a more positive and safe school environment where behaviour has improved and pupils feel they belong. The school is working hard to support new and vulnerable pupils, with Year 7 pupils praising the welcome they receive. Staff are receiving expert support to improve their teaching through collaborative networks and regular training.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour has improved significantly with clearer expectations and consistent consequences through the 'BHA way'
- Attendance is drawing closer to national averages with year-on-year improvements for all pupil groups
- Leadership stability has been strengthened with permanent appointments and better-resourced teams
- Growing sense of school belonging with positive pupil engagement and increased pupil leadership
- Safeguarding practices remain strong with effective interim processes in place during system transition
Areas for Improvement
- Quality of education delivery remains inconsistent across subjects and needs greater consistency
- Attendance gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers is not narrowing
- High number of suspensions and permanent exclusions still need further reduction
- Newly-arrived pupils, including those new to the country, are disproportionately represented in absence and behaviour data
- Pupils lack depth in talking about their learning and need better oracy skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with strong usual practice being maintained during a transition to a new management system, with an effective interim process working well.
Extracurricular Activities
Work experience placements, African cooking, board games, orienteering, cathedral visits, pupil council, pupil leadership roles
Birches Head Academy is a school with serious weaknesses that has made progress under new leadership since May 2024, but more work is necessary before this designation can be removed. The school is on a positive trajectory with improvements in attendance, behaviour, and staff stability, though challenges remain in ensuring consistent educational quality and closing attendance gaps.
At a Glance
41.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
24.8
Avg class size
38
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
925 pupils
1,040 capacity
115 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stoke-on-Trent
Admissions Demand - Stoke-on-Trent
Places available
3,160
Applications
3,413
Got 1st preference
86.5%
Got preferred school
96.1%
Secondary admissions across Stoke-on-Trent (2025/26)
Inspection History(106)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.85217%
Overall absence
36.16412%
Persistent absence
1,048
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Birches Head Academy
Holden Lane Academy
Abbey Hulton Primary School
Our Lady and St Benedict Catholic Academy
Carmountside Primary Academy
St George and St Martin's Catholic Academy
Co-op Academy Hamilton
Milton Primary Academy
Co-op Academy Grove
Co-op Academy Northwood
New Ford Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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