John Taylor High School, Burton-on-Trent

In its own words: "John Taylor High School is based in Barton-Under-Needwood and provides Secondary Education for pupils age 11-18. We are extremely proud of our whole school vision, which is ‘One Community, Striving for Personal Excellence’ . This is at the heart of John Taylor and highlights the great importance of having a strong, inclusive, diverse community which works effectively together."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to John Taylor High School. We are extremely proud of our whole school vision, which is ‘One Community, Striving for Personal Excellence’ ."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, badminton, dance, choir, chess, STEM, art and film.

In 2026, pupils at John Taylor High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Staffordshire and 47 across England.

59% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Staffordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 54.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.49: pupils made above 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 39.6, against 54.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 251 families put John Taylor High School as their first choice and 465 named it as one of their preferences, for 242 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 19 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to John Taylor High School are John Taylor Free School (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.1); Paget High School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.4); Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy (4.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47); and Paulet High School (4.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.7).

John Taylor High School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

John Taylor High 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.

401 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about John Taylor High School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).

Of the 234 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 169 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 64% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 19% into work. 31% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Asian (11%).

In 2026, 113 pupils (7.4%) received SEN support and 32 (2.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of John Taylor High School.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is John Taylor High School (adjacent), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 13 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).

In 2024/25, John Taylor High School issued 86 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to John Taylor High School are Thomas Russell Infants School (0.2 miles), Thomas Russell Junior School (0.4 miles) and Walton On Trent CofE Primary and Nursery School (1.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.