St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This school genuinely cares for its pupils and creates an environment where everyone feels valued and part of the community. Teachers are experts in their subjects who explain concepts clearly and use questioning to help pupils understand better. The school works hard to close reading gaps and provides targeted support so pupils with additional needs can access the full curriculum.
Key Strengths
- Strong attendance and behaviour with a 'warm-strict' culture that makes pupils want to come to school
- Effective safeguarding with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
- Ambitious leadership with robust quality assurance processes that have resulted in improved outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils
- Well-sequenced curriculum with high entry to English Baccalaureate and vocational options
- Comprehensive personal development programme and wide enrichment offer including clubs and leadership roles
Areas for Improvement
- Quality and depth of some pupils' written work is not consistently secure across key stages
- Assessments and checks on understanding for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are not always sharp enough to refine next steps
- Teachers do not apply curriculum adaptations with consistent precision across all subjects - some guidance remains too generic
- Not all pupils are fully engaged in their learning at all times
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Orchestra, robotics, drama, leadership roles, charity projects, summer school transition programme
St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy is a welcoming school with an inclusive ethos where pupils' best interests are nurtured. The school demonstrates a strong culture of care, high aspirations for all pupils, and effective leadership driving continuous improvement.
At a Glance
36.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
20.2
Avg class size
57
Total classes
7 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
1,143 pupils
1,200 capacity
57 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stoke-on-Trent
Admissions Demand - Stoke-on-Trent
Places available
3,160
Applications
3,413
Got 1st preference
86.5%
Got preferred school
96.1%
Secondary admissions across Stoke-on-Trent (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.04975%
Overall absence
18.90909%
Persistent absence
1,100
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy
Mill Hill Primary Academy
St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy
Whitfield Valley Primary Academy
Burnwood Primary Academy
The Oaks
Summerbank Primary Academy
St Joseph's Catholic Academy, Goldenhill
St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Star Academy, Sandyford
Ball Green Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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