John Taylor Free School, Burton-on-Trent

In its own words: "Our values and ethos shape every aspect of school life, from the way we learn and work together to the expectations we set for ourselves and others. At the heart of our approach is a simple aim: helping every student to succeed and thrive."

In 2026, pupils at John Taylor Free School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Staffordshire and 47 across England.

38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Staffordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.3: pupils made 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 34.7, against 46.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, French and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 173 families put John Taylor Free School as their first choice and 426 named it as one of their preferences, for 181 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 John Taylor Free School are Paget High School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.4); John Taylor High School (2.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 53.6); Paulet High School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.7); and Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy (3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47).

John Taylor Free School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

John Taylor Free School is one of 21 schools run by John Taylor MAT, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.8 in 2024/25.

Of the 223 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% 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.

27.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (48%), Asian (23%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 186 pupils (14.1%) received SEN support and 31 (2.4%) 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 Burton-on-Trent Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is John Taylor Free School (opposite), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 25 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).

In 2024/25, John Taylor Free School issued 399 suspensions, 30 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 10 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to John Taylor Free School are Branston Locks Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles), Rykneld Primary School (0.7 miles), Henhurst Ridge Primary Academy (1.3 miles) and Shobnall Primary & Nursery School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.