The Winsford Academy, Winsford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has made positive changes to its leadership and governance, creating a calmer school environment with fewer truancy incidents. Pupils have access to a wider range of subjects at GCSE and opportunities to develop their interests through clubs and activities. The school is committed to supporting pupils' personal development and well-being through its curriculum.
Key Strengths
- New interim executive board has enhanced governance and provided stronger support to the school
- School has redesigned its curriculum with subjects ordered to build knowledge over time
- Reading support has improved for younger pupils who find reading difficult
- Behaviour strategies have begun to yield some positive changes with calmer classrooms
- Personal development curriculum covers important themes like relationships, mental health and safety well
Areas for Improvement
- Staff do not deliver the intended curriculum well across most subjects, limiting pupils' knowledge building
- Teachers have low expectations and do not identify gaps in pupils' understanding quickly enough
- Behaviour management is inconsistent - off-task behaviour often goes unchallenged
- High absence rates, particularly among pupils with SEND, hinder progress
- Derogatory language and unkind behaviour between pupils is not addressed effectively enough
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Cheerleading club, sporting activities, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, careers encounters with organisations and colleges
The Winsford Academy is a secondary comprehensive school that has recently undergone significant leadership and staffing changes. Despite efforts to improve, the school is judged as Inadequate for quality of education and behaviour, with most pupils underachieving considerably due to weak curriculum delivery and inconsistent behaviour management.
At a Glance
43.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
169 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
24.2
Avg class size
40
Total classes
9 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
72%
Available places
945 pupils
1,312 capacity
367 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Winsford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Winsford
Admissions Demand - Cheshire West and Chester
Places available
4,161
Applications
3,615
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.4%
Secondary admissions across Cheshire West and Chester (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
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
16.66846%
Overall absence
45.40338%
Persistent absence
1,066
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
The Winsford Academy
Grange Community Nursery and Primary School
Winsford High Street Community Primary School
Over St John's CofE Primary School
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
The Oak View Academy
St. Chad's Church of England Primary School
Over Hall Community School
Darnhall Primary School
Wharton CofE Primary School
Willow Wood Community Nursery and Primary School
Nearby Schools
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