Werneth School, Stockport

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Werneth School on 6 areas: 6 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have underachieved."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' rates of attendance remain too low."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Since the last inspection, leaders' adoption of a new curriculum has brought renewed certainty about what pupils should learn and when."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders have begun to renew their systems for identifying barriers to pupils' learning and wellbeing."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Until recently, the trust did not support this school as well as it should."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Leaders have designed a comprehensive programme to support pupils' personal development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all subjects and year groups so that pupils learn and achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff are fully equipped with the information and expertise they need to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment techniques effectively in order to identify and address gaps and misconceptions in pupils' knowledge"; "Leaders should sharpen their analysis of attendance strategies to ensure that the most effective approaches are used for groups of pupils with varying needs so that they attend regularly"; "Leaders should ensure that planned improvements to the delivery of the personal, social, health and economic education curriculum enable all pupils to be better prepared to take their place in modern society"; "The trust should ensure that the school receives the support it needs in order to continue the positive developments that have begun".

In its own words: "At Werneth School, our vision is simple: every student will be known, understood and valued, and will receive the support and challenge they need to succeed. We are building a school where high expectations, excellent teaching and strong relationships enable every young person to thrive."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Werneth, we are committed to creating a community where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to succeed. Our mission is rooted in the belief that every young person deserves an exceptional education, delivered within a culture that promotes high expectations, strong relationships, and a genuine sense of belonging."

In 2026, pupils at Werneth School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.1 in Stockport and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 51% in Stockport and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 36.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.45: pupils made 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 29.4, against 43.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 140 families put Werneth School as their first choice and 266 named it as one of their preferences, for 238 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 Werneth School are Harrytown Catholic High School (under 0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.2); Marple Hall School (1.3 miles, Attainment 8 53.6); Stockport School (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.9); and Reddish Vale High School (2.6 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 37.9).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Werneth School.

Werneth School is one of 5 schools run by Education Learning Trust, an academy trust.

87 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Werneth School (as of April 2026): 64% would recommend the school, 72% say their child is happy there and 35% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (72%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (35%).

Of the 235 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 75% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 55% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

38.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Romiley Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Werneth School (at), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Werneth School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Werneth School issued 515 suspensions, 52 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Werneth School are St Christopher's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.2 miles); Bredbury Green Primary School (0.2 miles); Bredbury St. Marks CofE Primary School (0.8 miles); and Arden Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.