King Edward VI High School, Stafford

In its own words: "The overall aim of the school is "be the best you can be"."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our vibrant school community! As the Headteacher, I am proud to extend a warm greeting to all families and students. Our school is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where families truly are at heart of everything we do. We firmly believe in the importance of recognising and developing each unique potential."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics, basketball, badminton, dance and drama.

In 2026, pupils at King Edward VI High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Staffordshire and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Staffordshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 33.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.34: 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 32, against 43.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 83 families put King Edward VI High School as their first choice and 210 named it as one of their preferences, for 106 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 King Edward VI High School are Blessed William Howard Catholic School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.1); Stafford Manor High School (0.9 miles); Stafford Manor High School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 35.3); and Sir Graham Balfour High School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.7).

King Edward VI High School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

King Edward VI High School is one of 2 schools run by Walton Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

50 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about King Edward VI High School (as of September 2025): 70% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).

Of the 149 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 61% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 20 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 40% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 40% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

11.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Black (9%).

In 2026, 109 pupils (16.9%) received SEN support and 14 (2.2%) 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 Stafford Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dryden Crescent (adjacent), 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 312 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, King Edward VI High School issued 211 suspensions, 31.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to King Edward VI High School are Castlechurch Primary School (0.3 miles), Blessed Mother Teresa's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), Rowley Park Primary Academy (0.4 miles) and Flash Ley Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.