Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #11 in Stoke-on-Trent public Top 41% UK

Discovery Academy

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

personMs Jayne Schofield

corporate_fareALPHA ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onStoke-on-Trent, ST2 0GA

language Visit Website phone 1782882100

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,387

trending_up

Attainment 8

37.4

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Stoke-on-Trent

#2,845 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

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

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School Summary

Discovery Academy is an academy sponsor led in Stoke-on-Trent, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ALPHA ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,437 pupils on roll, of whom 51% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.4, placing the school #10 in Stoke-on-Trent and #2,845 of 3,216 nationally. 28.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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 17.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 28.4 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

37.4

Grade 5+ E&M

28.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.7%

Entering EBacc23.50%

EBacc APS3.01

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26.70%

EBacc APS3.02

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.37

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS3.09

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.41

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS3.23

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.3

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS3.34

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59%

EBacc APS3.56

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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)76%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment15%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)68%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

80%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)66%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)18%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

16 April 2024

Inspection Report

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22 January 2019

Inspection Report

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05 October 2016

Inspection Report

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25 May 2016

Inspection Report

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12 November 2015

Inspection Report

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29 April 2015

Inspection Report

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14 January 2015

Inspection Report

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17 June 2013

Inspection Report

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15 January 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

6 Evaluations

2024-04-16

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-01-22

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-10-05

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-05-25

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-11-12

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-01-14

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Development

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

27.1%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

10.2%(146 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 1,437 pupils. During this period, there were 389 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 27.1%, 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)	1,437	389	27.1%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,447	430	29.7%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,441	310	21.5%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,446	304	21.0%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,454	434	29.8%	8.2%	5
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,387	326	23.5%	6.6%	8
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,387	530	38.2%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,399	415	29.7%	5.9%	3
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,330	365	27.4%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,330	333	25.0%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,337	163	12.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,263	101	8.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,267	36	2.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,276	94	7.4%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,202	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,202	94	7.8%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,198	120	10.0%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,137	68	6.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,145	130	11.4%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,153	105	9.1%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,078	46	4.3%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,076	32	3.0%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,093	31	2.8%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,018	50	4.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,016	53	5.2%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,032	37	3.6%	3.1%	0

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 104 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 75 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 51 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 40 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 14 pupils

Physical Disability 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 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.

68.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

69.0%Positive

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

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree38%

disagree18%

strongly disagree16%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree29%

agree27%

disagree22%

strongly disagree18%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree25%

agree23%

disagree15%

strongly disagree19%

don't know3%

not applicable15%

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

yes30%

no70%

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

strongly agree27%

agree27%

disagree9%

strongly disagree27%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree34%

agree40%

disagree7%

strongly disagree11%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree34%

agree33%

disagree14%

strongly disagree11%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree36%

agree36%

disagree16%

strongly disagree12%

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

strongly agree42%

agree42%

disagree5%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree41%

agree37%

disagree11%

strongly disagree3%

don't know8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree37%

agree32%

disagree8%

strongly disagree12%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes62%

no38%

Top Secondary Schools in Stoke-on-Trent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St Joseph's College

Outstanding

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 5NT

emoji_events #1 in LA

Thistley Hough Academy

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 5JJ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Trentham Academy

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8PQ

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6LZ

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Thomas More Catholic Academy

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 2NJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Co-op Academy Stoke-On-Trent

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4LD

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Stoke-on-Trent 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.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Stoke-on-Trent

St Joseph's College

Thistley Hough Academy

Trentham Academy

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

St Thomas More Catholic Academy

Co-op Academy Stoke-On-Trent