Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #7 in Blackpool public Top 45% UK

Unity Academy Blackpool

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

personMr Stephen Cooke

corporate_fareFYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBlackpool, FY2 0TS

language Visit Website phone 1253478129

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

994

trending_up

Attainment 8

29.3

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#7 in Blackpool

#3,189 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Unity Academy Blackpool is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Blackpool, serving ages 2-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Unity Academy Blackpool is an academy sponsor led in Blackpool, admitting pupils aged 2-16. It is part of FYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 946 pupils on roll, of whom 62% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 29.3, placing the school #7 in Blackpool and #3,189 of 3,216 nationally. 17.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 3.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

In 2025, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 2% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #5 of 7 primaries in Blackpool and #2,071 of 3,216 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Inadequate, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Inadequate.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 8.8 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

29.3

Grade 5+ E&M

17.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)3.5%

Entering EBacc11.10%

EBacc APS2.57

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.94

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

26.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5.40%

EBacc APS2.14

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.27

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

27.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5%

EBacc APS2.14

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS2.72

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.59

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS2.71

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.89

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

31.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc2%

EBacc APS2.26

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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

75%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)18%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)16%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

82%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)17%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

81%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)71%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)16%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment11%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 52%

Reading79% LA 66%

Writing79% LA 62%

Maths82% LA 64%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 51%England 61%

Reading72% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing68% LA 62% · Eng 72%

Maths56% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

55%

LA 52%England 60%

Reading73% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 65% · Eng 71%

Maths75% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.6

Read

LA -0.8

-2.3 to 1.1

0.3

Write

LA -0.6

-1.3 to 1.9

-0.4

Maths

LA -0.4

-2.0 to 1.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading86% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths85% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

6.5

Read

LA 0.7

4.9 to 8.1

-0.1

Write

LA -0.3

-1.6 to 1.4

3.2

Maths

LA 1.1

1.8 to 4.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

37%

LA 59%

Reading60% LA 69%

Writing78% LA 72%

Maths52% LA 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.9

Read

LA 0.3

-2.4 to 0.6

-0.1

Write

LA 0.6

-1.6 to 1.4

-2.5

Maths

LA 0.6

-3.9 to -1.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 December 2024

Inspection Report

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29 November 2023

Inspection Report

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05 July 2022

Inspection Report

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03 October 2017

Inspection Report

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05 November 2015

Inspection Report

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03 June 2015

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-12-10

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

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Inadequate

2022-07-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-10-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-11-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-06-03

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

7.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.1%(48 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

4pupils

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 946 pupils. During this period, there were 68 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.2%, 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)	946	68	7.2%	7.3%	4
2024/25 (Autumn term)	953	100	10.5%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	981	64	6.5%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	974	35	3.6%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	989	95	9.6%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	989	208	21.0%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	994	223	22.4%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,007	137	13.6%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,035	105	10.1%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,051	82	7.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,039	109	10.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	985	110	11.2%	3.6%	3
2020/21 (Spring term)	973	23	2.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	984	103	10.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	962	5	0.5%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	962	69	7.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	966	101	10.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	935	80	8.6%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	951	52	5.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	961	34	3.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	931	34	3.7%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	907	36	4.0%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	927	67	7.2%	3.7%	4
2016/17 (Summer term)	887	33	3.7%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	882	56	6.3%	3.3%	3
2016/17 (Autumn term)	886	49	5.5%	3.1%	2

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

accessibility_new

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 98 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 62 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 56 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 19 pupils

Physical Disability 17 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 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.

76.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

77.0%Positive

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

28.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree42%

disagree18%

strongly disagree12%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree36%

agree30%

disagree21%

strongly disagree12%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree38%

agree12%

disagree13%

strongly disagree16%

don't know3%

not applicable18%

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

yes43%

no57%

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

strongly agree45%

agree24%

disagree12%

strongly disagree12%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree34%

agree32%

disagree20%

strongly disagree5%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree32%

disagree14%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree38%

agree34%

disagree16%

strongly disagree11%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree41%

agree33%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

don't know14%

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

strongly agree39%

agree38%

disagree11%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree42%

agree28%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes63%

no37%

Top Secondary Schools in Blackpool

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St George's School A Church of England Academy

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Good

location_on Blackpool, FY3 7EQ

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Montgomery Academy

Good

location_on Blackpool, FY2 0AZ

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Armfield Academy

Good

location_on Blackpool, FY4 1TL

emoji_events #4 in LA

Blackpool Aspire Academy

Requires improvement

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

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 Blackpool

St George's School A Church of England Academy

St Mary's Catholic Academy

Montgomery Academy

Armfield Academy

Blackpool Aspire Academy

Highfield Leadership Academy