Q3 Academy Tipton, Tipton
Q3 Academy Tipton is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Tipton, part of The Mercian Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 19th-highest of the 19 schools in Sandwell with published results, and 3,145th of 3,298 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Sandwell (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Q3 Academy Tipton in detail
Q3 Academy Tipton in its own words
In its own words: "Prepare pupils in all its schools to enjoy life to the full, inspiring them to:"
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted that you are looking for information about Q3 Academy Tipton. Our mission is to be incredible in everything that staff and our students do, with students: knowing more, doing more, achieving more . We are proudly a comprehensive and community school and we acknowledge the wide variety in diversity and opportunity this provides us."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Q3 Academy Tipton averaged an Attainment 8 score of 34.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.2 in Sandwell and 47 across England.
14% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 37% in Sandwell and 47% in England.
That is down from 36.4 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.05: 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 29.8, against 37.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.9 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Geography.
Getting a place at Q3 Academy Tipton
For September 2026 entry, 271 families put Q3 Academy Tipton as their first choice and 453 named it as one of their preferences, for 294 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Q3 Academy Tipton are Gospel Oak School (1.2 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 39.2); Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.7); George Salter Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.5); and St James Academy (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than Q3 Academy Tipton.
Gospel Oak SchoolOrmiston Sandwell Community AcademyGeorge Salter AcademySt James Academy
The trust
Q3 Academy Tipton is one of 12 schools run by The Mercian Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49 in 2024/25.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Q3 Academy Tipton (as of September 2025): 81% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 295 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 66% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.
Of the 71 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 54% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 16% into work. 5% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 38.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (50%), Asian (24%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 168 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 47 (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.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Horseley Road (West Midlands Metro), about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High School (opposite), 130 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Q3 Academy Tipton issued 365 suspensions, 23.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Q3 Academy Tipton are Joseph Turner Primary School (0.2 miles), St Martin's CofE Primary School (0.3 miles), Summerhill Primary Academy (0.4 miles) and Great Bridge Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Joseph Turner Primary SchoolSt Martin's CofE Primary SchoolSummerhill Primary AcademyGreat Bridge Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Q3 Academy Tipton has transformed into a welcoming place where pupils genuinely enjoy learning and feel safe. The school has created a well-planned curriculum that stretches all learners, with particularly strong support for reading and those with additional needs. Leadership is committed to pupil wellbeing and development, offering many opportunities for pupils to develop their talents through clubs, sports, and meaningful roles like the pupil parliament.
Key Strengths
- Pupils behave with respect and consideration, and feel safe and supported at school
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum in all subjects that meets the needs of all learners including those with SEND
- Strong focus on reading across the whole school with rapid progress for those who struggle
- Excellent careers guidance from Year 7 through to post-sixth form
- Personal development is a priority with innovative ways to develop cultural understanding and respect for diversity
Areas for Improvement
- Staff do not consistently implement strategies to support pupils with SEND across all lessons
- Teachers do not consistently check what pupils have learned at the end of lessons, meaning some pupils miss help they need
- Published exam outcomes at Year 11 and 13 do not yet reflect the positive changes being made
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, sporting activities, pupil parliament
Q3 Academy Tipton is a secondary comprehensive school that has made significant improvements over the last two years under new leadership. The school has moved from 'Requires improvement' to 'Good' across all key areas of provision.
At a Glance
47.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
47 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from -0.75 to -1.05 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 32.7 to 34.1 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 14% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 34.1 | 13.9% |
| Disadvantaged(128) | - | 29.8 | 8.6% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(153) | - | 37.7 | 18.3% |
| Boys(156) | - | 31.9 | 12.8% |
| Girls(125) | - | 36.8 | 15.2% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(133) | - | 37.8 | 18% |
| Non mobile(263) | - | 34.6 | 14.4% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 7 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 295 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
1
Permanent exclusions
0.06%
Exclusion rate
365
Suspensions
23.43%
Suspension rate
119 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,558 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Q3 Academy Tipton
Term dates
Q3 Academy Tipton is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Sandwell's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Q3 Academy Tipton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Q3 Academy Tipton is in Sandwell; for families living there:
Apply to Sandwell for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 31
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 11 serious and 19 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
10 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 Sandwell is 26.5 (the median across 134 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 Q3 Academy Tipton
Will you get a place at Q3 Academy Tipton? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Q3 Academy Tipton's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Q3 Academy Tipton:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Q3 Academy Tipton.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Sandwell, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Q3 Academy Tipton for 2019 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Sandwell 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
93%
Near capacity
1,545 pupils
1,659 places
114 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Tipton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Tipton
Across Sandwell council
Places available
5,146
Applications
4,404
Got 1st preference
80.8%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All secondary applications across Sandwell council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
168
SEN Support
47
EHC Plans
13.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,563
Total Pupils
739
Boys
824
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
86
Teachers
18.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,329
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,716
Per pupil
£12214k
Total funding
£707k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.5%
Overall absence
27.1%
Persistent absence
1,525
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
Q3 Academy Tipton
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Q3 Academy Tipton
What are GCSE results like at Q3 Academy Tipton?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Q3 Academy Tipton achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34.1. 14% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Q3 Academy Tipton's Ofsted rating?
Q3 Academy Tipton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Q3 Academy Tipton?
No fixed boundary. When Q3 Academy Tipton is oversubscribed, Sandwell allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Q3 Academy Tipton?
Q3 Academy Tipton was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 1659 places.
How big are the classes at Q3 Academy Tipton?
Classes at Q3 Academy Tipton average 23.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Q3 Academy Tipton?
Q3 Academy Tipton has around 1563 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Q3 Academy Tipton?
8.5% of sessions were missed at Q3 Academy Tipton in 2024/25. 27.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Q3 Academy Tipton?
Apply through Sandwell's coordinated admissions process, naming Q3 Academy Tipton 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 Q3 Academy Tipton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 11 serious and 19 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 10 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 Sandwell is 26.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Q3 Academy Tipton?
Q3 Academy Tipton is at Alexandra Road, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 7NR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)