The King’s CofE Academy Review 2026: Church of England secondary with sixth form in Kidsgrove

Three words shape the day here, Aspire, Belong, Care, and the emphasis is deliberately practical, not abstract. The academy serves students aged 11 to 18, with a published capacity of 750, and operates in a modern secondary building that opened in November 2016, a point the school highlights as part of its facilities offer.

Leadership has recently transitioned. Emma Postlethwaite is the current Principal, and the academy’s published governance record shows the previous principal, Will Wilson, stepped down on 31 August 2025.

The latest Ofsted inspection (March 2024) confirmed the academy continues to be Good, with effective safeguarding.

The academy’s stated Christian ethos is clear in how it frames community life, inclusion, and responsibility, rather than as a narrow faith filter. Worship is part of the rhythm, supported by chaplaincy and student involvement, alongside a wider expectation that students contribute positively to the community.

Pastoral language on the school website is consistent, it repeatedly returns to belonging, being known, and being supported through challenge. That tone is reinforced by external evidence from the most recent inspection which describes a caring culture, positive relationships, and pupils feeling safe, with bullying described as rare and addressed when it occurs.

It is also a school that uses structure to communicate expectations. The published academy day sets a clear start and finish, and describes supervised entry routines with heads of year present, which signals a preference for calm, consistent operations rather than informal drift.

The headline performance picture is mixed and, in places, challenging. Based on the FindMySchool ranking (drawn from official outcomes data), the academy is ranked 3,474th in England for GCSE outcomes and 22nd in Stoke-on-Trent, placing it below England average overall.

At GCSE, the academy’s Attainment 8 score is 38.2. Progress 8 is -0.72, which indicates students, on average, make less progress than similar pupils nationally from the end of primary school to GCSE.

Curriculum entry patterns provide another useful lens. The average EBacc APS is 3.02, below the England figure of 4.08. The academy’s proportion achieving grade 5 or above in the EBacc element is recorded as 70%.

For post-16, FindMySchool’s A-level outcomes ranking places the sixth form 2,572nd in England and 12th in Stoke-on-Trent, again below England average overall. The published grade-distribution fields available for this page do not provide a usable A-level breakdown, so families should treat the sixth form ranking as the main comparative indicator here, then validate subject-level strength through sixth form options, student destinations support, and discussion at open events.

Parents comparing alternatives locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages to view outcomes side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, rather than relying on headline impressions.

A notable strength, evidenced externally, is the academy’s approach to identifying and supporting pupils who are behind, particularly around reading. The most recent inspection describes regular reading and targeted programmes for pupils who struggle, with a stated impact on fluency and vocabulary that enables wider curriculum access.

The inspection also points to effective SEND identification and information-sharing with staff, with adaptation in lessons enabling pupils with SEND to access the full curriculum. That matters in a school working to improve outcomes, because it reduces the risk that support is isolated in a single department rather than embedded in everyday teaching.

Where the school is still tightening practice is also clear. The inspection flags three improvement priorities, attendance for some pupils remains too low, language uptake at key stage 4 is limited (affecting EBacc participation), and a minority of pupils are not consistently using feedback to improve their work. Those are not cosmetic issues, they directly affect achievement over time.

For younger students, a key transition point is the end of Year 11. The academy promotes structured careers education and post-16 guidance through key stages, including careers education embedded within relationships, social and health education (RSHE), and work experience at Year 10.

In the sixth form, the academic and technical offer is framed as mixed pathway rather than a single academic track. The March 2024 inspection describes access to A-level, T-level, and Applied General qualifications, alongside an emphasis on students choosing the right route for their future, not simply defaulting to traditional options.

Published national destinations data for the 2023/24 leaver cohort indicates a practical spread of outcomes. For that cohort (30 students), 20% progressed to university, 3% to further education, 3% to apprenticeships, and 43% to employment.

Year 7 entry follows coordinated admissions via the local authority where a child lives, not necessarily the authority where the school sits. This is particularly relevant in Kidsgrove given cross-border travel patterns. The academy also makes clear that some applicants will be applying via Cheshire East, depending on home address.

For September 2026 entry, Staffordshire’s published timeline shows the on-time application deadline was 31 October 2025, and applicants who apply late are routed through paper or late processes. In Cheshire East, the same closing date applies, with offers made on 2 March 2026 and a stated deadline of 16 March 2026 for accepting or refusing places.

Demand is meaningful but not extreme. In the most recent admissions cycle represented in the available demand data, there were 196 applications for 135 offers, which equates to about 1.45 applications per place and indicates oversubscription.

As a Church of England academy, faith-related criteria can play a part where applicants apply on faith grounds. Families considering that route should read the determined admissions arrangements carefully and ensure any required supplementary evidence is completed in the way the policy specifies.

Parents considering admission often benefit from checking distance-to-school calculations early. Where oversubscription applies, families can use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand their likely position relative to historic allocation patterns, while remembering that allocation thresholds vary each year.

Pastoral care is not presented as an add-on. The external inspection describes staff knowing pupils well, pupils trusting staff to help if there is a problem, and a culture where pupils feel happy and safe.

The academy also publishes a broad personal-development offer that includes RSHE coverage of safety, diversity, and healthy relationships, plus a careers programme that supports decisions at multiple points, including work experience at Year 10 and Year 12.

Students who want structured support beyond lessons have clear routes into it, including an advertised Homework Club with staffed sessions at lunch and after school.

Extracurricular life is presented as a participation model rather than a selective model. Clubs run after the academy day, with published timings indicating sessions begin shortly after the end of lessons and run for around an hour, which is a practical fit for many families balancing transport and commitments.

Several programmes stand out because they combine personal development with concrete evidence for CVs and applications. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is well established, with the school describing structured access across year groups, including silver for sixth form and a pathway through multiple levels. The sixth form enrichment offer also includes first aid and other added qualifications, and the inspection notes first aid, food safety, and health and safety as completed elements for all students, which can be particularly useful for students aiming for employment or apprenticeship routes.

Faith and service are also visible in enrichment. Student chaplaincy involvement and Christian Union activity are referenced in school communications, and the inspection highlights sixth form students taking on “well-being ambassador” roles and volunteering at a local food bank.

The published academy day runs from 8:35am to 3:05pm, with entry routines starting shortly beforehand. Enrichment clubs are scheduled immediately after the school day on set start times, which helps families plan pickup or onward travel.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for the usual associated costs, uniform, equipment, optional trips, and any paid enrichment.

Transport arrangements vary by home address and local authority. For up-to-date travel options and eligibility for transport support, families should check the relevant local authority guidance for their postcode.

• Outcomes context. GCSE and A-level rankings for this page sit below England average overall. Families should explore subject-level strengths and support structures, not just the headline.

• Attendance remains a priority. The most recent inspection identifies attendance for some pupils as too low, with work ongoing to improve this. If your child has struggled with attendance before, ask directly what support is in place and how it is coordinated with families.

• Language uptake and EBacc breadth. The inspection notes low uptake of languages at key stage 4, which affects EBacc participation. Students who want a broad academic route, including language study, should check how this is timetabled and encouraged.

• Feedback culture is still being tightened. A minority of pupils are not consistently using teacher feedback to improve work, which can limit progress over time. Ask how response-to-feedback is built into lessons and homework routines.

The King’s CofE Academy is a values-led Church of England secondary with a clear intent to build a safe, supportive culture, and it has a well-described personal-development offer that includes structured enrichment such as Duke of Edinburgh, leadership roles, and practical qualifications. Outcomes data, however, points to a school still working through significant improvement priorities, particularly around progress measures, attendance, and academic breadth through languages.

It suits families who want a Christian-ethos school with strong pastoral signals, clear routines, and accessible enrichment, and who are prepared to engage actively with the school on learning habits, attendance, and subject choices.