Paulet High School, Burton-on-Trent

In its own words: "The curriculum at Paulet extends beyond an academic focus for our students as we ensure that the wider personal development of our students is of equal importance."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our shared Paulet Values, Paulet Character and Everyone Included - underpin everything we do. These values exemplify the high standards we uphold and our students embody them daily demonstrating courtesy, respect and a commitment to learning. Inspectors observed that ``pupils are courteous and respectful to others, behave well in lessons and benefit from a broad and ambitious curriculum`` (Ofsted 2024)."

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

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Staffordshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 41 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.69: 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 35.7, against 46.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Religious Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 154 families put Paulet High School as their first choice and 292 named it as one of their preferences, for 170 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Paulet High School are Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47); Abbot Beyne School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.4); Mercia Academy (1.6 miles, Attainment 8 38.7); and Paget High School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.4).

Paulet High School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Paulet 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.

Of the 149 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 49% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 69 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 55% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 10% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 93 pupils (10.2%) received SEN support and 21 (2.3%) 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 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marston Rise (opposite), 220 metres away.

In 2024/25, Paulet High School issued 213 suspensions, 23.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Paulet High School are The Violet Way Academy (0.1 miles), Edge Hill Academy (0.2 miles), River View Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles) and Stanton Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.