Haywood Academy, Stoke-on-Trent

In its own words: "At Haywood Academy, we want our students to dream, believe and achieve through offering our pupils a forward thinking and innovative curriculum. All pupils are encouraged to hold the highest expectations of themselves and our staff will motivate and challenge each child to reach their full potential."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is both a great privilege and a huge honour to be the Principal at Haywood Academy. At Haywood Academy, we aim to inspire our young people."

In 2026, pupils at Haywood Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 35.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.4 in Stoke-on-Trent and 47 across England.

20% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 36% in Stoke-on-Trent and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 36.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.55: 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 29.4, against 40.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.

For September 2026 entry, 149 families put Haywood Academy as their first choice and 401 named it as one of their preferences, for 192 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Haywood Academy are Co-op Academy Stoke-On-Trent (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.2); St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 42.3); Ormiston Horizon Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.5); and The Excel Academy (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.7).

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

Haywood Academy is one of 4 schools run by City Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 239 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 66% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 21 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 19% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 19% into work.

49% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

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

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shaftesbury Avenue (adjacent), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, Haywood Academy issued 529 suspensions, 47.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Haywood Academy are Jackfield Infant School (0.3 miles), Moorpark Junior School (0.3 miles), St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy (0.7 miles) and Mill Hill Primary Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.