Stantonbury School, Milton Keynes

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Stantonbury School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard, 1 needs attention and 3 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the needs of pupils well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils are effectively supported in their personal development."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a suitable sixth form offer that reflects the needs of students and the local community."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teachers do not use checks on pupils' understanding consistently well."

Achievement - Urgent improvement. "Pupils' attainment in national examinations by the end of key stage 4 in 2025 was significantly below the national average across all subjects."

Attendance and behaviour - Urgent improvement. "Too many pupils are frequently absent."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Leaders do not accurately or consistently review the impact of their work."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that they have an accurate oversight of any poor behaviours that happen in the school so that these are responded to swiftly and effectively. Additionally, leaders should ensure that they accurately measure the impact of their behaviour management strategy so that pupils' unacceptable behaviour rapidly reduces"; "Leaders should ensure that their work to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence is sustainable"; "Leaders should ensure that they improve the consistency of teaching across the school so that pupils achieve more securely and are better prepared for their next steps"; "Governors should ensure that the work of the school is thoroughly checked and challenged so that priorities are sharply focused where they need to be".

In its own words: "At Stantonbury School, we are proud to offer a range of high-quality facilities available for public hire. Whether you are looking for professional sporting venues or performance spaces, our campus provides the ideal environment for local clubs, organisations, and private events."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming and gardening.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 5pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Stantonbury School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 32.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.1 in Milton Keynes and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Milton Keynes and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 32.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.89: 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 28.2, against 37.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 143 families put Stantonbury School as their first choice and 277 named it as one of their preferences, for 216 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 nearest other state secondary schools to Stantonbury School are E-Act Ousedale School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.8); The Radcliffe School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.3); The Milton Keynes Academy (2.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.1); and St Paul's Catholic School (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.9).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Stantonbury School.

Stantonbury School is one of 16 schools run by Tove Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.3 in 2024/25.

134 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stantonbury School (as of April 2026): 51% would recommend the school, 58% say their child is happy there and 26% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (58%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (26%).

Of the 346 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 38 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 42% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

39.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 218 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 22 (1.6%) 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.

Stantonbury School had 69 teachers in 2026, one for every 22 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Wolverton Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stantonbury Campus (outside), 250 metres away.

In 2024/25, Stantonbury School issued 975 suspensions, 65.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Stantonbury School are Stanton School (0.2 miles), Wood End Infant & Pre-School (0.4 miles), Pepper Hill School (0.6 miles) and St Monica's Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.