Thistley Hough Academy, Stoke-on-Trent

Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.2km)Possible (~1.8km)Unlikely (~2.3km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Ms Michelle Lawrence
Pupils:1,105 / 1,050 capacity
LA:Stoke-on-Trent
Phone:01782883500
Address:Thistley Hough, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 5JJ
Trust:CREATIVE EDUCATION TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2013

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Needs Attention
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 2 June 2026View full report
URN:139068
UKPRN:10039917
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Stoke-on-Trent Central
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Thistley Hough Academy excels at supporting disadvantaged pupils to achieve very well and preparing all pupils for positive next steps. The school creates a caring environment where vulnerable pupils feel a strong sense of belonging, and the leadership development programme helps pupils develop into community leaders. Teachers provide good support for literacy and numeracy skills, particularly for pupils who arrive without these foundations.

Key Strengths

  • Disadvantaged pupils achieve significantly above national peers, particularly in English and mathematics
  • Strong support for pupils who join without being ready for secondary education through targeted literacy and numeracy help
  • Effective leadership strategy for improving disadvantaged pupils' outcomes with regular evaluation and adaptation
  • Well-designed personal development curriculum reflecting school values of respect, resilience and responsibility
  • Strong pastoral care with effective support for vulnerable pupils including those who are looked after

Areas for Improvement

  • Teachers at key stage 3 do not consistently check pupils' understanding, so some knowledge gaps are not filled quickly enough
  • Too many pupils are suspended or placed in isolation rooms for behaviour that falls short of expectations
  • Some pupils struggle with punctuality, though improvement is beginning to show
  • Pupils' behaviour does not yet meet the school's high expectations overall

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are fulfilled, resulting in pupils feeling safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Leadership programme, enrichment activities and clubs, careers experiences

Thistley Hough Academy is a school that has improved significantly, with pupils typically enjoying coming to school and achieving well across most subjects. Disadvantaged pupils attain very well, particularly in English and mathematics, and most pupils progress to positive destinations.

At a Glance

38.3%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

25.3

Avg class size

39

Total classes

7 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Thistley Hough (adj)
87m · 1 min walk
Marchwood Court (opp)
222m · 4 min walk
Newcastle Lane (adj)
277m · 5 min walk
Queens Road (adj)
327m · 5 min walk
Springfields Road (adj)
344m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

105%

Over capacity

1,105 pupils

1,050 capacity

55 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent

Low pressure
New homes approved:3,431
Projected new pupils:618

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stoke-on-Trent

Admissions Demand - Stoke-on-Trent

Low demand1.08x oversubscription

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(5)

2 June 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
4 May 2022
22 March 2017
Leadership & ManagementGood

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.47788%

Overall absence

24.53826%

Persistent absence

1,137

Enrolments

Authorised4.8681%
Unauthorised3.60978%
Persistent (10%+)24.53826%
Severe (50%+)3.51803%

Absence trend

6.44089%
18/19
5.66396%
20/21
9.70429%
21/22
8.90884%
22/23
8.64583%
23/24
8.47788%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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