Paulet High School Review 2026: Inclusive secondary with a clear character curriculum and a growing sixth form offer

A school that puts relationships and routines first tends to feel calmer than its data headlines might suggest, and that is a fair summary here. Paulet High School serves Stapenhill and the wider Burton-on-Trent area as an 11 to 18 mixed academy within the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust. The current headteacher is Ian McArthur.

The most recent full inspection (April 2024) judged the school Good across all areas, including sixth form. That external picture aligns with the school’s own emphasis on values, personal development, and a structured school day. For parents, the key question is fit: an ordered, inclusive environment with broad pathways at key stage 4 and post 16, set against performance measures that signal there is still work to do on outcomes and consistency.

The school’s identity is strongly tied to its “Paulet Values”, expressed through a character and inclusion lens, and used as a common language for expectations. The Ofsted report describes an inclusive, harmonious culture where staff know pupils well, behaviour is typically courteous and respectful, and support is available when pupils struggle to meet standards.

Pastoral work is visible through formal structures rather than slogans. Pupils are taught how to raise wellbeing concerns and how bullying is handled, and the report indicates that issues are followed up appropriately. The school’s wider offer also reinforces this tone. The Wellbeing Hub, for example, promotes targeted programmes such as a multi week Wellbeing Champions course for selected new Year 7 pupils, focusing on relationships, strong emotions, and teamwork.

Leadership sits within a trust context. Paulet joined the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust in February 2020, and governance support and challenge are described as knowledgeable and active. For families, that matters because trust capacity can shape improvement pace, staff development, and the consistency of systems across years.

Paulet’s published performance profile is mixed, and it is important to read it alongside the school’s inclusive intake and broad pathways.

GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking)

Ranked 2700th in England and 5th in Burton-on-Trent for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), which places performance broadly in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

At GCSE level, the school’s Progress 8 score is -0.69, which indicates that, on average, pupils’ progress from key stage 2 starting points is below the England benchmark. The EBacc average point score is 3.6.

A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking)

Ranked 2309th in England and 4th in Burton-on-Trent for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), which sits below England average (bottom 40% nationally).

For A-level grades, the most recent published breakdown shows A* at 1.46% and A at 3.65% of entries, meaning A*/A together are 5.11%. A* to B are 26.28% of entries.

What this means in practice is that families considering sixth form should focus on subject fit, teaching strength in the intended courses, and the support model for students who need to improve GCSE English and maths alongside post 16 study.

Parents comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view GCSE and A-level performance alongside nearby schools on a like for like basis.

The academic model prioritises curriculum sequencing and consistent routines. The April 2024 inspection highlights careful thinking about the knowledge and skills pupils should learn, and a curriculum structure designed to build complexity over time.

Where the school is strongest, the classroom pattern is clear: teachers’ subject enthusiasm is used to deliver content effectively, structured discussion supports vocabulary development, and learning checks are used to adjust teaching. The improvement work is also clearly defined. The same report notes that assessment checks do not always identify precise gaps, so misconceptions can go unaddressed, and some pupils then progress more slowly than intended.

Reading is treated as a whole school priority rather than a marginal intervention. Pupils are described as developing a love of reading, supported by a curated range of books and targeted programmes for those who struggle. That kind of approach tends to suit pupils who benefit from explicit routines and structured academic support, particularly in early key stage 3.

Paulet offers a broad key stage 4 and post 16 pathway, spanning academic and vocational routes, and careers education is positioned as a core entitlement.

For leavers in the 2023/24 cohort, destination data shows a mixed picture of progression: 29% to university, 15% to apprenticeships, 44% to employment, and 1% to further education (with other destinations not shown).

Alongside that, the school has an established, if small, Oxbridge pipeline in the measured period. The most recent recorded Oxbridge data shows 2 Cambridge applications, 1 offer, and 1 acceptance.

Careers provision is consistently referenced as a strength, including employer engagement and work experience for older pupils and sixth form students, which helps students make informed choices across academic, apprenticeship, and employment routes.

Year 7 entry is coordinated through Staffordshire’s admissions process, rather than direct application to the school. The Staffordshire timetable for entry in September 2026 set the application window as 1 September 2025 to 31 October 2025, with offers on 2 March 2026.

The school is described as oversubscribed in the most recent admissions snapshot available here. Demand data indicates 297 applications for 170 places, which is approximately 1.75 applications per place.

Because oversubscription is a recurring feature in many Staffordshire schools, families should treat open events and deadline discipline as non negotiable. Staffordshire’s published open evening schedule for September 2026 entry included a Paulet open evening on Thursday 02 October 2025, which signals the typical pattern of early October open events.

For distance sensitive decisions, families should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise home to school distance and to sense check realistic options across the local area, even when a published “last distance offered” figure is not available.

Pastoral support is delivered through a combination of clear behaviour expectations and targeted wellbeing work. The inspection evidence points to calm, orderly social times, behavioural incident analysis, and external agency work where needed, alongside a strong focus on attendance and punctuality.

The Wellbeing Hub content provides an additional layer, including resilience and confidence work for Year 7 pupils, and student leadership roles that support peer mentoring and responsibility. For parents, this is most relevant when a child needs predictable routines, visible staff support, and structured routes to ask for help.

Ofsted confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Extracurricular activity is positioned as part of the school’s character model, not an optional add on. Pupils are described as benefiting from clubs, trips, and visits, and they talk positively about the opportunities available, including residential experiences, peer mentoring, and chess club.

Specific club examples on the school site point to a mix of creative, academic, and sport activity. Recent highlights include Origami Club, a student led Chess Club, and a Coding Club programme. Sports participation is also visible through regular after school clubs and fixtures, with examples such as Badminton Club and girls’ netball activity shared through school channels.

Trips and enrichment are framed as a way to expand horizons, with the school citing overseas visits and longer trips as part of its wider offer. The implication for families is straightforward: pupils who engage in clubs and enrichment typically gain confidence, social connection, and a stronger sense of belonging, which can support attendance and effort in the classroom.

The published structure of the day is based on five 60 minute lessons. The school day begins with an 8:27 movement bell and finishes at 3:00 pm, operating on a two week timetable, with staggered breaks to reduce pressure on social spaces and canteen access.

For transport planning, families should review local bus options and travel time carefully, especially if after school clubs are a priority, since enrichment participation often depends on reliable collection arrangements.

• Progress measures are a concern. The Progress 8 score of -0.69 indicates pupils make below average progress from key stage 2 starting points, so families should ask how the school targets support in key subjects and how it checks learning gaps.

• Classroom consistency is still improving. The inspection highlights that assessment checks do not always identify precise misconceptions and some errors can go unaddressed, which can slow progress.

• SEND communication and adaptation need tighter execution. Pupils with SEND are identified, but teachers do not always receive the information needed to adapt tasks consistently, which can reduce access for some learners.

• Sixth form outcomes require careful subject level scrutiny. The school acknowledges that A-level outcomes in 2023 were not as strong as they should be and that support plans were put in place, so families should discuss subject specific teaching, independent study expectations, and academic support before committing.

Paulet High School comes across as a structured, values driven school with an inclusive culture and clear priorities around behaviour, wellbeing, and careers education. The challenge is turning that culture into consistently stronger outcomes, particularly in progress measures and post 16 performance.

Best suited to families who want a calm, ordered mainstream secondary with broad pathways, a strong pastoral tone, and a practical approach to destinations that includes apprenticeships and employment as well as university.