The Macclesfield Academy, Macclesfield

In its own words: "At The Macclesfield Academy, we combine the warmth of a small, nurturing school with an uncompromising commitment to academic excellence and future success. We are proud to be a school where every child is genuinely known, valued and empowered-not as a slogan, but as a lived daily reality."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Can I extend a very warm welcome to parents considering The Macclesfield Academy. We know that choosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child, and at TMA we take that responsibility deeply seriously."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics, badminton, STEM and Duke of Edinburgh.

On phones, the school says: "Home Parents Mobile Phone Pouches Share This Page facebook Share this page on Facebook twitter Tweet this page Email this page Mobile Phone Pouches To support our mobile phone policy, The Sir John Brunner Foundation uses secure, lockable phone pouches during the school day."

In 2026, pupils at The Macclesfield Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.1 in Cheshire East and 47 across England.

39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Cheshire East and 47% in England.

That is up from 42.7 in 2025.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 30.7, against 50.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.4 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 73 families put The Macclesfield Academy as their first choice and 225 named it as one of their preferences, for 92 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 The Macclesfield Academy are All Hallows Catholic College (0.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 50.7); Tytherington School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.7); and The Fallibroome Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Macclesfield Academy.

The Macclesfield Academy is one of 4 schools run by The Sir John Brunner Foundation, an academy trust.

5.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 86 pupils (14%) received SEN support and 59 (9.6%) 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.

The Macclesfield Academy has a resourced provision: 14 places, 14 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Macclesfield Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Macclesfield College (outside), 270 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 314 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cheshire East (61), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Macclesfield Academy issued 171 suspensions, 26.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Macclesfield Academy are Christ The King Catholic and Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles), Ash Grove Academy (0.4 miles), Ivy Bank Primary School (0.5 miles) and Parkroyal Community School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.