Ofsted: Outstanding

Blackfriars Academy

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

personMrs Alison Parr

corporate_fareTHE SHAW EDUCATION TRUST

location_onNewcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 2TF

language Visit Website phone 1782987150

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

119

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GCSE Rank

#82 in Staffordshire

#4,632 of 4,676 nationally

summarize

Blackfriars Academy is a Academy special converter school in Newcastle-under-Lyme, serving ages 11-19. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Blackfriars Academy is an academy special converter in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It is part of THE SHAW EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 120 pupils on roll, of whom 39% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.03

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.92

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.01

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.93

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0

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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

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 October 2023

Inspection Report

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15 October 2020

Inspection Report

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26 September 2017

Inspection Report

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01 October 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-09-26

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-01-16

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-03-12

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 120 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	120	0	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	118	0	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	116	0	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	118	1	0.8%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	117	0	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	119	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	119	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	120	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	112	0	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	111	0	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	111	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	111	1	0.9%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	109	1	0.9%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	113	0	0.0%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	107	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	107	1	0.9%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	108	1	0.9%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	93	0	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	91	0	0.0%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	85	2	2.4%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	198	1	0.5%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	199	1	0.5%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	200	4	2.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	188	3	1.6%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	187	1	0.5%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	185	1	0.5%	3.1%

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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 31 pupils

Physical Disability 29 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

Blackfriars Academy

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

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)

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover