Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #23 in Staffordshire public Top 24% UK

Sir Graham Balfour High School

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

personMr Matthew Mason

corporate_fareINSIGHT MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onStafford, ST16 1NR

language Visit Website phone 1785223490

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

962

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#25 in Staffordshire

#1,727 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Sir Graham Balfour High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Stafford, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Sir Graham Balfour High School is an academy converter in Stafford, Staffordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of INSIGHT MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 998 pupils on roll, of whom 21% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45, placing the school #25 in Staffordshire and #1,727 of 3,216 nationally. 37.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 20.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 16 A-level subjects. 50.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 23.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.15 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.8 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

Grade 5+ E&M

37.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)20.5%

Entering EBacc36.40%

EBacc APS4.07

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc40.60%

EBacc APS4.04

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc43%

EBacc APS4.66

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.2

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41%

EBacc APS4.19

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.37

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc32%

EBacc APS3.78

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS4.09

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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

90%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.15

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.9%

Achieving A*–A23.3%

Achieving A*–B50.5%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate94.6%

A-level subjects offered16

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.25

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate97.00%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate94.60%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate93.9%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 October 2024

Inspection Report

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14 May 2019

Inspection Report

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06 September 2016

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2019-05-14

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-05-08

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-01-30

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

5.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.8%(28 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 998 pupils. During this period, there were 58 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.8%, 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)	998	58	5.8%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,001	78	7.8%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	970	60	6.2%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	970	45	4.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	977	64	6.6%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	961	39	4.1%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	962	33	3.4%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	968	28	2.9%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	950	23	2.4%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	954	23	2.4%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	963	30	3.1%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	957	22	2.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	955	5	0.5%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	959	14	1.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	949	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	949	20	2.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	956	14	1.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	939	12	1.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	946	14	1.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	947	20	2.1%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	927	17	1.8%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	927	15	1.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	936	9	1.0%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	932	5	0.5%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	931	12	1.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	935	7	0.7%	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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 50 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 40 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 31 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 29 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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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.

83.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

83.0%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 agree26%

agree48%

disagree16%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree23%

agree30%

disagree33%

strongly disagree9%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree27%

agree30%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

not applicable20%

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

yes25%

no75%

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

strongly agree17%

agree28%

disagree19%

strongly disagree30%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree42%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree42%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree46%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree39%

agree50%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree47%

agree44%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree27%

agree45%

disagree14%

strongly disagree7%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes80%

no20%

Top Secondary Schools in Staffordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Painsley Catholic College

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1LH

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The Friary School

Good

location_on Lichfield, WS13 7EW

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John Taylor High School

Outstanding

location_on Burton-on-Trent, DE13 8AZ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Endon High School

Good

location_on Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9EE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Blessed William Howard Catholic School

Good

location_on Stafford, ST17 9AB

emoji_events #5 in LA

King Edward VI School

Good

location_on Lichfield, WS14 9EE

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Staffordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

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 Staffordshire

Painsley Catholic College

The Friary School

John Taylor High School

Endon High School

Blessed William Howard Catholic School

King Edward VI School