Dixons Ashton Academy, Ashton-under-Lyne

In its own words: "At Dixons Ashton Academy, we have many minds but one mission: every student belongs to a united community, values hard work and kindness, and achieves academic excellence. We tell the truth, act with integrity, and do the right thing even when no one is watching."

In 2026, pupils at Dixons Ashton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Tameside and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Tameside and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 38.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.56: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 34.3, against 41.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 196 families put Dixons Ashton Academy as their first choice and 376 named it as one of their preferences, for 258 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Dixons Ashton Academy are St Damian's RC Science College (0.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56); West Hill School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.2); The Hathershaw College (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 35.2); and Oasis Academy Leesbrook (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.4).

Dixons Ashton Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Dixons Ashton Academy is one of 21 schools run by Dixons Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.7 in 2024/25.

63 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Dixons Ashton Academy (as of September 2025): 73% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (84%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (67%).

Of the 254 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 43% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

52% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 302 pupils (22.8%) received SEN support and 66 (5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Ashton-under-Lyne Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Samuel Laycock School (outside), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Dixons Ashton Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Dixons Ashton Academy issued 214 suspensions, 16.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Dixons Ashton Academy are Holden Clough Primary School (0.3 miles); St Christopher's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles); Oasis Academy Broadoak (0.4 miles); and Hurst Knoll St James' Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.