Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #4 in Blackpool public Top 41% UK

Armfield Academy

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

personMr Mark Kilmurray

corporate_fareFYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBlackpool, FY4 1TL

language Visit Website phone 1253207702

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,105

trending_up

Attainment 8

35.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#5 in Blackpool

#2,984 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Armfield Academy is a Free schools secondary school in Blackpool, serving ages 3-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Armfield Academy is a free schools in Blackpool, admitting pupils aged 3-16. It is part of FYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,215 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35.6, placing the school #5 in Blackpool and #2,984 of 3,216 nationally. 19.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

In 2025, 45% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #16 of 7 primaries in Blackpool and #11,072 of 3,216 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.8 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

35.6

Grade 5+ E&M

19.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.2%

Entering EBacc52.00%

EBacc APS3.29

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc62.90%

EBacc APS3.22

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc62%

EBacc APS3.33

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

explore

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

87%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 52%

Reading63% LA 66%

Writing58% LA 62%

Maths62% LA 64%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 51%England 61%

Reading-% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing-% LA 62% · Eng 72%

Maths-% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 52%England 60%

Reading-% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Writing-% LA 65% · Eng 71%

Maths-% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -0.8

Write

LA -0.6

Maths

LA -0.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%England 65%

Reading-% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing-% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths-% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.7

Write

LA -0.3

Maths

LA 1.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 59%

Reading-% LA 69%

Writing-% LA 72%

Maths-% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.3

Write

LA 0.6

Maths

LA 0.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 February 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2023-02-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

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

4.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.9%(35 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

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 1,215 pupils. During this period, there were 60 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.9%, 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)	1,215	60	4.9%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,215	82	6.7%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,152	66	5.7%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,150	68	5.9%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,150	65	5.7%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,103	118	10.7%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,105	138	12.5%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,111	128	11.5%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	891	86	9.7%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	898	58	6.5%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	898	60	6.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	686	49	7.1%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	684	9	1.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	681	28	4.1%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	463	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	463	17	3.7%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	455	6	1.3%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	237	4	1.7%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	231	3	1.3%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	216	0	0.0%	3.8%	0

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

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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 36 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 36 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Hearing Impairment 7 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 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.

73.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

76.0%Positive

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

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree27%

agree32%

disagree24%

strongly disagree14%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree30%

agree28%

disagree22%

strongly disagree19%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree18%

agree31%

disagree19%

strongly disagree12%

don't know1%

not applicable18%

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

yes20%

no80%

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

strongly agree29%

agree24%

disagree14%

strongly disagree24%

dont know10%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree35%

agree36%

disagree18%

strongly disagree4%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree35%

disagree19%

strongly disagree7%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree34%

disagree19%

strongly disagree13%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree32%

agree44%

disagree16%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree48%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree26%

agree40%

disagree19%

strongly disagree10%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes70%

no30%

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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St Mary's Catholic Academy

Good

location_on Blackpool, FY3 7EQ

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Montgomery Academy

Good

location_on Blackpool, FY2 0AZ

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Blackpool Aspire Academy

Requires improvement

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Highfield Leadership Academy

Requires improvement

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Unity Academy Blackpool

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

Blackpool Aspire Academy

Highfield Leadership Academy

Unity Academy Blackpool