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Birches Head Academy
Birches Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST2 8DD, Stoke-on-Trent
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
1.7 / 100
Bottom 2%
Better than 2% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Inadequate
Pupils
953
Capacity
1,040
Ages
11–16
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
92%
Summary
With an Ofsted rating of Inadequate, this secondary school faces significant challenges, reflected in its low GCSE Attainment 8 score of 31.3 and only 39% of students achieving a grade 4 or higher in English and Maths. Additionally, the school's LocaleIQ score indicates it performs better than just 2% of schools, suggesting it may not meet the expectations many parents seek. Families considering this option should carefully weigh these factors against their educational priorities.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 3 October 2023Quality Of Education: Requires improvementPersonal Development: Requires improvementBehaviour & Attitudes: InadequateLeadership & Management: Requires improvement
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 31.3 | Bottom 2% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 39% | Bottom 4% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 17% | Bottom 2% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 26% | Bottom 21% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 10% | Bottom 21% UK |
Pupil Ethnicity
White British57.1%
Other9.8%
White Other8.3%
Black African8.3%
Asian Pakistani7.5%
Asian Other2.0%
Mixed Other1.5%
Mixed W+Asian1.2%
Mixed W+B African1.0%
Mixed W+B Carib.0.9%
Black Other0.8%
Gypsy/Roma0.6%
Asian Chinese0.4%
Asian Indian0.2%
Black Caribbean0.2%
Asian Bangladeshi0.1%
Location
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53.03971, -2.15178 · ST2 8DD
School details
Local authorityStoke-on-Trent
RegionWest Midlands
URN148220
School typeAcademy converter
Websitewww.bircheshead.org.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Birches Head Academy rated by Ofsted?
Birches Head Academy was rated "Inadequate" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 3 October 2023.
Is Birches Head Academy a good school?
Birches Head Academy scores 1.7/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the bottom 2% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
How do pupils perform at Birches Head Academy in GCSEs?
Birches Head Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 31.3. 39% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near ST2 8DD?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near ST2 8DD with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.