New Ford Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
New Ford Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Stoke-on-Trent, part of The Lighthouse Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 43rd-highest of the 103 schools in Stoke-on-Trent with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Stoke-on-Trent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
New Ford Academy in detail
New Ford Academy in its own words
In its own words: "New Ford Academy is special place where everyone is made to feel safe and valued. We want every child to develop a love of learning and be the best that they can be."
From the headteacher's welcome: "New Ford is a single Academy school which is both creative and innovative in striving towards its mission and vision of 'lighting the way to a better future' for all our pupils."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:15am and after-school care until 6:00pm.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at New Ford Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Stoke-on-Trent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 90% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at New Ford Academy
For September 2026 entry, 60 families put New Ford Academy as their first choice and 78 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to New Ford Academy are Smallthorne Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 73% maths); Jackfield Infant School (0.7 miles, Good); Holden Lane Academy (0.7 miles, 97% reading, 87% maths); and Sneyd Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 66% reading, 79% maths).
New Ford Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Smallthorne Primary AcademyJackfield Infant SchoolHolden Lane AcademySneyd Academy
The trust
New Ford Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Who goes there
36.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%), Asian (7%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 33 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 11 (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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Platform 1, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Larksfield Road (opposite), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, New Ford Academy issued 18 suspensions, 3.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to New Ford Academy are The Excel Academy (0.5 miles), Birches Head Academy (0.9 miles) and Haywood Academy (0.9 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
36.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 90% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 87% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.8
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
14
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from New Ford Academy
Newsletter 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Newsletter 25th September 2026
25 Sep 2026
Newsletter 18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Newsletter 11th September 2026
11 Sep 2026
Newsletter 17th July 2026
17 Jul 2026
Newsletter 10th July 2026
10 Jul 2026
From New Ford Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with New Ford Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near New Ford Academy.
- Head Start Care Club380m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to New Ford Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. New Ford Academy is in Stoke-on-Trent; for families living there:
- Stoke-on-Trent's school travel policy: School transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 6 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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 Stoke-on-Trent is 12.5 (the median across 116 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 New Ford Academy
Will you get a place at New Ford Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against New Ford Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for New Ford Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to New Ford Academy.
- Stoke-on-Trent publishes last distance offered figures, but none for New Ford Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at New Ford Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Stoke-on-Trent 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
419 pupils
420 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stoke-on-Trent
Across Stoke-on-Trent council
Places available
3,315
Applications
2,953
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All primary applications across Stoke-on-Trent council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
33
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
9.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
465
Total Pupils
229
Boys
236
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
22.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£40,969
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,419
Per pupil
£2639k
Total funding
£245k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.8%
Overall absence
14.0%
Persistent absence
372
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
New Ford Academy
Questions parents ask about New Ford Academy
What are SATs results like at New Ford Academy?
Of the pupils at New Ford Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is New Ford Academy's Ofsted rating?
New Ford Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2012 it was rated Good.
How close to New Ford Academy do you need to live?
Stoke-on-Trent published that the last place offered at New Ford Academy on distance went to a family 3.119 miles away. This is the authority's own figure for one year, not a fixed boundary - the cut-off moves with the number of applications, so treat it as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Is it hard to get a place at New Ford Academy?
New Ford Academy was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at New Ford Academy?
Classes at New Ford Academy average 29.8 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to New Ford Academy?
New Ford Academy has around 465 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at New Ford Academy?
5.8% of sessions were missed at New Ford Academy in 2024/25. 14% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to New Ford Academy?
Apply through Stoke-on-Trent's coordinated admissions process, naming New Ford Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does New Ford Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of New Ford Academy: Head Start Care Club (380m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near New Ford Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 6 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Stoke-on-Trent is 12.5 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Where is New Ford Academy?
New Ford Academy is at Brownley Road, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 1PY.
Sources: Stoke-on-Trent admissions booklet; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)