Grace Academy Darlaston, Wednesbury

Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1119

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.2km)Possible (~1.7km)Unlikely (~2.2km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Henry Holland
Pupils:1,059 / 1,075 capacity
LA:Walsall
Phone:01215683300
Address:Herberts Park Road, Wednesbury, WS10 8QJ
Trust:TOVE LEARNING TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2009

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 21 April 2026View full report
URN:135956
UKPRN:10027983
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Wolverhampton South East
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Grace Academy Darlaston creates a happy, respectful environment where pupils feel supported and safe. The school offers an exciting range of activities and trips that enrich learning and personal development, with leaders ensuring all pupils can access these opportunities. Staff are committed to meeting pupils' needs with strong focus on inclusion, with particularly effective support through the inclusion hub.

Key Strengths

  • Strong personal development and wellbeing with a vibrant array of extra-curricular activities that are accessible to all pupils
  • Effective peer mentoring programme that supports younger pupils to feel safe and confident
  • Well-developed inclusion practices, particularly through the inclusion hub which helps pupils develop confidence and readiness to learn
  • Proactive approach to improving attendance through personalized strategies and pastoral support
  • Effective identification and support of pupils with gaps in reading, writing and mathematics

Areas for Improvement

  • Some inconsistency in teachers' use of checks on pupil understanding across the school, particularly in adapting the curriculum for pupils with additional needs
  • Attainment dipped in 2025 due to staffing turbulence, with less consistent results in academic sixth form courses
  • Need to make classroom adaptations consistently effective so pupils with additional needs secure knowledge and skills more reliably

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Peer mentoring, visiting speakers, university trips, volunteering opportunities, work experience, trips and outings, sixth form wider activities

Grace Academy Darlaston is a happy and calm school where pupils behave well and feel safe. Leaders have prioritized inclusion, safeguarding and attendance, with pupils typically achieving in line with national averages over time.

At a Glance

56.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

22.0

Avg class size

47

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

1,059 pupils

1,075 capacity

16 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Wednesbury

Low pressure
New homes approved:372
Projected new pupils:67

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Wednesbury

Admissions Demand - Walsall

Low demand0.93x oversubscription

Places available

4,057

Applications

3,772

Got 1st preference

75.9%

Got preferred school

93.9%

Secondary admissions across Walsall (2025/26)

Inspection History(10)

21 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
26 April 2022
26 April 2017
Leadership & ManagementGood

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

10.74277%

Overall absence

35.62439%

Persistent absence

1,033

Enrolments

Authorised3.66483%
Unauthorised7.07794%
Persistent (10%+)35.62439%
Severe (50%+)3.87222%

Absence trend

5.39311%
18/19
5.89002%
20/21
9.40097%
21/22
9.01138%
22/23
9.90514%
23/24
10.74277%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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