Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #10 in Tameside public Top 39% UK

Dixons Ashton Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr David Waugh

corporate_fareGREAT ACADEMIES EDUCATION TRUST

location_onAshton-under-Lyne, OL6 8RF

language Visit Website phone 1612419555

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,292

trending_up

Attainment 8

38.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Tameside

#2,776 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Dixons Ashton Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Ashton-under-Lyne, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

article

School Summary

Dixons Ashton Academy is an academy sponsor led in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of GREAT ACADEMIES EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,299 pupils on roll, of whom 50% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.1, placing the school #10 in Tameside and #2,776 of 3,216 nationally. 29.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

38.1

Grade 5+ E&M

29.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.9%

Entering EBacc33.00%

EBacc APS3.35

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25.60%

EBacc APS3.19

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.66

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS3.07

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS3.01

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.51

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS3.31

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS3.35

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 March 2025

Inspection Report

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13 November 2024

Inspection Report

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07 March 2023

Inspection Report

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25 June 2019

Inspection Report

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09 January 2019

Inspection Report

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26 September 2018

Inspection Report

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23 January 2018

Inspection Report

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10 October 2017

Inspection Report

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28 February 2017

Inspection Report

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25 February 2015

Inspection Report

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01 May 2013

Inspection Report

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05 March 2013

Inspection Report

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16 June 2011

Inspection Report

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18 May 2010

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

9 Evaluations

2025-03-11

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2023-03-07

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-06-25

Schools into Special Measures Visit 5 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2019-01-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-09-26

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-01-23

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-10-10

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-02-28

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2015-02-25

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

5.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.5%(45 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,299 pupils. During this period, there were 68 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.2%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,299	68	5.2%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,283	58	4.5%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,289	66	5.1%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,291	70	5.4%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,288	91	7.1%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,293	135	10.4%	6.6%	3
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,292	219	17.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,298	126	9.7%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,292	166	12.8%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,297	225	17.3%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,297	181	14.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,281	154	12.0%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,276	48	3.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,263	74	5.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,272	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,272	61	4.8%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,264	53	4.2%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,259	86	6.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,261	69	5.5%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,259	141	11.2%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,265	167	13.2%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,266	155	12.2%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,269	232	18.3%	3.7%	3
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,365	176	12.9%	3.0%	3
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,386	250	18.0%	3.3%	4
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,397	115	8.2%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 87 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 81 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 68 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 7 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

30.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree50%

agree35%

don't know15%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree45%

agree45%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree35%

agree10%

not applicable55%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree40%

agree55%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree50%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree55%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree40%

agree55%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree55%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

Top Secondary Schools in Tameside

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Damian's RC Science College

Outstanding

location_on Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8BH

emoji_events #1 in LA

Fairfield High School for Girls

Good

location_on Manchester, M43 6AB

emoji_events #2 in LA

Laurus Ryecroft

Outstanding

location_on Manchester, M43 7LJ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Droylsden Academy

Good

location_on Manchester, M43 6QD

emoji_events #4 in LA

Alder Community High School

Requires improvement

location_on Hyde, SK14 5NJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Audenshaw School

Good

location_on Manchester, M34 5NB

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Tameside arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Tameside

St Damian's RC Science College

Fairfield High School for Girls

Laurus Ryecroft

Droylsden Academy

Alder Community High School

Audenshaw School