Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #20 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 45% UK

The Winsford Academy

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

personMs Laura Halsall

corporate_fareTHE FALLIBROOME TRUST

location_onWinsford, CW7 2BT

language Visit Website phone 1606592300

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,056

trending_up

Attainment 8

30.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#20 in Cheshire West and Chester

#3,165 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

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

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School Summary

The Winsford Academy is an academy sponsor led in Winsford, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of THE FALLIBROOME TRUST. The school has approximately 1,023 pupils on roll, of whom 45% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 30.6, placing the school #20 in Cheshire West and Chester and #3,165 of 3,216 nationally. 13.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 5.1% 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 Inadequate, behaviour and attitudes Inadequate, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 38.5 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

30.6

Grade 5+ E&M

13.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.1%

Entering EBacc13.70%

EBacc APS2.54

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

29.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29.40%

EBacc APS2.52

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.85

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS2.84

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.82

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS2.96

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS3.35

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS3.08

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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

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)67%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment11%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)17%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)73%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment11%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 July 2024

Inspection Report

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16 November 2023

Inspection Report

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15 November 2022

Inspection Report

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04 May 2016

Inspection Report

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19 May 2014

Inspection Report

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28 January 2014

Inspection Report

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18 April 2013

Inspection Report

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12 February 2013

Inspection Report

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25 January 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-07-15

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 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

Inadequate

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2022-11-15

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-05-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-01-28

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

40.0%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

15.2%(156 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,023 pupils. During this period, there were 409 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 40.0%, which is above 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)	1,023	409	40.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,028	381	37.1%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,063	779	73.3%	7.4%	7
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,089	779	71.5%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,103	695	63.0%	8.2%	11
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,058	444	42.0%	6.6%	11
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,056	401	38.0%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,069	189	17.7%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,042	126	12.1%	4.7%	3
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,048	145	13.8%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,047	131	12.5%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,021	87	8.5%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,011	28	2.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,024	157	15.3%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	960	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	960	42	4.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	965	89	9.2%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	911	100	11.0%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	917	91	9.9%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	922	115	12.5%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	902	58	6.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	903	85	9.4%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	902	80	8.9%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	859	66	7.7%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	859	35	4.1%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	857	23	2.7%	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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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.

Other Difficulty/Disability 124 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 92 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 1 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 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.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

86.0%Positive

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

25.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree26%

agree43%

disagree17%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree26%

agree43%

disagree11%

strongly disagree11%

don't know9%

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

strongly agree26%

agree17%

disagree3%

strongly disagree14%

don't know6%

not applicable34%

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

yes29%

no71%

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

strongly agree40%

agree50%

strongly disagree10%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree37%

agree40%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree31%

strongly disagree11%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree60%

agree20%

disagree9%

strongly disagree11%

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

strongly agree60%

agree31%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree60%

agree34%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree34%

agree46%

strongly disagree14%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

Top Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Christleton High School

Good

location_on Chester, CH3 7AD

emoji_events #1 in LA

Bishop Heber High School

Good

location_on Malpas, SY14 8JD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

Good

location_on Tarporley, CW6 0BL

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

Good

location_on Chester, CH3 5XF

emoji_events #4 in LA

The County High School, Leftwich

Outstanding

location_on Northwich, CW9 8EZ

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW8 1JW

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cheshire West and Chester 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 Cheshire West and Chester

Christleton High School

Bishop Heber High School

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

The County High School, Leftwich

St Nicholas Catholic High School