Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, Stoke-on-Trent

From the headteacher's welcome: "Leading Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams from inception and seeing it through to fruition is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Florence opened its doors in September 2024 in temporary accommodation, welcoming our founding cohort of 120 Year 7 students."

For September 2026 entry, 178 families put Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams as their first choice and 362 named it as one of their preferences, for 171 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams are Ormiston Meridian Academy (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 40.6); Discovery Academy (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 33.5); St Thomas More Catholic Academy (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.6); and Blythe Bridge High School (2 miles, Attainment 8 42.9).

Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams is one of 40 schools run by The Co-Operative Academies Trust, an academy trust.

43.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 11.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Asian (12%).

In 2026, 50 pupils (16.9%) received SEN support and 9 (3.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.

Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 7 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Platform 1, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Weston Road (adjacent), 350 metres away.

In 2024/25, Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams issued 5 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams are Weston Junior Academy (0.3 miles), Park Hall Academy (0.5 miles), Alexandra Junior School (0.5 miles) and The Crescent Academy (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.