Alcester Academy
97%
Capacity
632
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Alcester Academy
Alcester Academy was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, but the detail tells a more striking story. Inspectors awarded the school Outstanding marks for both personal development and behaviour and attitudes, and also rated leadership and management as Outstanding. That puts the school in a strong position academically, and the exam data backs it up. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was 0.65, which is well above average nationally and ranks it 2nd out of 10 schools in the Stratford-on-Avon local authority. To put that in context, the average Progress 8 score across Warwickshire secondary schools is just 0.02, so Alcester Academy is significantly outperforming its local peers. It also sits in the top 25% of schools nationally on this measure, and in the top 7% of schools in the West Midlands region.
Looking more closely at the breakdown, pupils at Alcester Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 54.4, and 64% of students secured a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. The school’s English Baccalaureate average point score was 4.95, with 32% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. The Progress 8 scores across individual subject areas are particularly strong: maths progress was 0.84, English progress was 0.44, and the EBacc subjects combined came in at 0.66. That maths figure is notably high and suggests the school is especially effective at moving pupils forward in that subject. The school’s EBacc entry rate was 57.6%, meaning over half of pupils took a broad academic curriculum. With a Progress 8 banding of ‘well above average’, the school is clearly adding real value for its students, especially given that 21.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
The school is a mixed 11-16 secondary with no sixth form, and it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 380 applications for 132 places and 147 first-preference applications. It offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, art studios and a library, and runs clubs from coding and science club to Duke of Edinburgh and Young Enterprise. Sports on offer include athletics, hockey, swimming, netball and tennis. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. For families in the Stratford-on-Avon area, Alcester Academy is a strong, high-value option that consistently outperforms the local average, and its Outstanding ratings for behaviour and personal development suggest a calm, purposeful environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Gerard Road, Alcester, Stratford-on-Avon, B49 6QQ |
| Headteacher | Sarah Mellors |
| Local Authority | Warwickshire |
| Number of Pupils | 632 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 21.2% |
| School Capacity | 632 / 650 (97% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Jan 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.65)
333rd of 3,141
Nationally
24th of 371
In West Midlands
2nd of 10
In Stratford-on-Avon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2341%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 128 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)41%
- FE college41%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed132
380
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
147 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.2%
- White (other)3.5%
- Mixed2.6%
- Asian0.2%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcester Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Gerard Road, Alcester
Stratford-on-Avon, B49 6QQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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