Lakelands Academy, Ellesmere
Lakelands Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Ellesmere, part of The 3-18 Education Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2022. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 8th-highest of the 20 schools in Shropshire with published results, and 2,215th of 3,298 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted report card
- 1 area need attention
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Shropshire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lakelands Academy in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Lakelands Academy on 6 areas: 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Expected standard. "Typically, pupils in key stage 4 achieve well in national examinations across a range of subjects."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that a broad and ambitious curriculum is in place."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders swiftly and effectively identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance generally have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school has developed an effective personal development programme."
Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders' efforts to improve pupils' attendance have been highly effective."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the interventions they use with the small minority of pupils who disrupt lessons lead to improved behaviour for these pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop positive attitudes to learning so that they complete work to the best of their ability"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all subjects by ensuring that staff effectively implement the school's agreed approach to curriculum delivery".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Lakelands Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher, I am proud to serve our students, our families and our community and I am delighted to welcome you to Lakelands Academy. I am honoured to lead and work alongside a team of highly skilled and dedicated professionals who share in my passion for our students to achieve the best possible outcomes."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Lakelands Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.7 in Shropshire and 47 across England.
40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 35% in Shropshire and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 43.1.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.63: 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 41.6, against 42.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 1.3 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.
Getting a place at Lakelands Academy
For September 2026 entry, 107 families put Lakelands Academy as their first choice and 242 named it as one of their preferences, for 113 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 trust
Lakelands Academy is one of 14 schools run by The 3-18 Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 106 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 72% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.
Who goes there
5.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 85 pupils (14.4%) received SEN support and 45 (7.6%) 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 autism.
Lakelands Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 25 places, 27 pupils on roll.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Lakelands Academy.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lakelands School (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 27 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Shropshire (10), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lakelands Academy issued 58 suspensions, 10 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Lakelands Academy
Pupils have a mixed experience at this school. Some pupils enjoy their learning and time at school. However, a significant minority of pupils do not. They say other pupils' behaviour disrupts their lessons. They say that staff are not always consistent when dealing with conduct issues. Generally, there are positive relationships between staff and pupils. In lessons, some pupils do not have a positive attitude to learning and do not complete work to a high enough standard. Most pupils behave well at break and lunchtimes. They socialise well together. Some pupils report that other pupils can be disrespectful toward one another. Staff typically deal with these issues effectively. When bullying occurs, it is addressed. Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), attend school well. Typically, the curriculum is taught effectively. Staff understand the barriers to learning that pupils have and typically address these well. On the whole, at key stage 4, pupils achieve in line with other pupils nationally, including disadvantaged pupils. They are well prepared for their next steps. Pupils who attend the specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND get high-quality teaching that meets their needs. Staff know these pupils' needs very well and are effective at addressing barriers to learning. They progress well from their starting points. There is a range of extra-curricular opportunities for pupils to take part in. More pupils are taking part in these than previously. Pupils enjoy taking part in the chess club, debating, choir and sports clubs. Some pupils also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Some pupils are proud to take on leadership roles such as school 'senators', wellbeing ambassadors and reading buddies.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that the interventions they use with the small minority of pupils who disrupt lessons lead to improved behaviour for these pupils.
- Leaders should ensure that pupils develop positive attitudes to learning so that they complete work to the best of their ability.
- Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all subjects by ensuring that staff effectively implement the school's agreed approach to curriculum delivery.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 9 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lakelands Academy excels at supporting pupils with additional needs, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, who achieve well and have high attendance. The school offers a broad curriculum with good teaching in most lessons, and provides excellent personal development opportunities. Staff create generally positive relationships with pupils and the school has strong leadership focused on putting pupils' needs first.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well in national examinations at key stage 4, with disadvantaged pupils performing in line with their peers nationally
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND through a well-resourced provision with highly effective teaching
- Strong attendance rates across all pupil groups, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
- Broad and ambitious curriculum with clear teaching approaches
- Effective personal development programme covering healthy living, online safety, relationships and British values
Areas for Improvement
- Behaviour disruptions in too many lessons affecting learning, with a small group of pupils repeatedly causing issues
- Inconsistent use of the behaviour policy by staff, with limited impact so far
- Some pupils not completing work to a high enough standard
- Curriculum delivery not consistently strong across all subjects
- Not all staff using support strategies consistently well in lessons
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Chess club, debating, choir, sports clubs, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, school senate, wellbeing ambassadors, reading buddies, charity fundraising, community events, school trips to amusement parks, beach, safari park and art exhibitions
Lakelands Academy is an expected standard school where pupils generally achieve well in examinations and are well prepared for their next steps. However, behaviour disruptions in some lessons remain a concern that leaders are working to address.
About
Lakelands Academy is a coeducational secondary school located in Ellesmere in the English county of Shropshire.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
23.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from -0.36 to -0.63 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 41.6 to 42.7 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 29% to 40% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 42.7 | 40.3% |
| Disadvantaged(21) | - | 41.6 | 47.6% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(98) | - | 42.9 | 38.8% |
| Boys(65) | - | 38.7 | 33.8% |
| Girls(54) | - | 47.5 | 48.1% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(10) | - | 52.8 | 70% |
| Non mobile(112) | - | 43.2 | 41.1% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 2 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 106 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.34%
Exclusion rate
58
Suspensions
9.98%
Suspension rate
36 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 581 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Keep up with Lakelands Academy
Term dates
Lakelands Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Shropshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lakelands Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lakelands Academy is in Shropshire; for families living there:
Apply to Shropshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Lakelands Academy
Will you get a place at Lakelands Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lakelands Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lakelands Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lakelands Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Shropshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Lakelands Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Shropshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
575 pupils
580 places
5 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ellesmere
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ellesmere
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,213
Applications
2,845
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All secondary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
85
SEN Support
45
EHC Plans
22.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lakelands Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 25 places, 27 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
590
Total Pupils
319
Boys
271
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
40
Teachers
14.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,067
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,815
Per pupil
£4162k
Total funding
£125k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.4%
Overall absence
20.4%
Persistent absence
594
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Lakelands Academy
Questions parents ask about Lakelands Academy
What are GCSE results like at Lakelands Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Lakelands Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.7. 40% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Lakelands Academy's Ofsted rating?
Lakelands Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Lakelands Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Lakelands Academy is oversubscribed, Shropshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Lakelands Academy?
Lakelands Academy was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Lakelands Academy?
Classes at Lakelands Academy average 23.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Lakelands Academy?
Lakelands Academy has around 590 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lakelands Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Lakelands Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 25 places, 27 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Lakelands Academy?
6.4% of sessions were missed at Lakelands Academy in 2024/25. 20.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lakelands Academy?
Apply through Shropshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Lakelands Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Lakelands Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lakelands Academy?
Lakelands Academy is at Oswestry Road, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0EA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)