Alsager School
96%
Capacity
1,519
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Alsager School
Alsager School is a large, mixed secondary in Cheshire East that is clearly in demand. With 1,519 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,575, it is running very close to full. The school received 434 applications for 262 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.66, and all 259 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.2%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely comprehensive intake. The school has no religious character and serves the local community without a selective admissions policy. Its size and popularity mean that families applying from outside the immediate catchment area should be realistic about their chances, though the data shows that those who put Alsager first are currently successful.
Academically, Alsager performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of +0.21 is rated 'Above average' nationally and places it 5th out of 21 schools in Cheshire East, comfortably ahead of the local authority average of -0.17. At GCSE, 75.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 44.1% achieved the English Baccalaureate at that threshold. The Attainment 8 score of 50.2 is solid. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly strong: the school achieved a value-added score of +0.27, also rated 'Above average', and pupils averaged a B- grade per entry. The best three A-levels averaged a B grade. Ofsted inspected in January 2023 and rated the school Good overall, with all categories including behaviour, leadership, and sixth form provision judged Good. This was a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2016, but the inspection report noted no serious weaknesses.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers football, hockey, cricket, martial arts, and swimming, while extracurricular clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, debating, coding, and orchestra. The SEND department is well-resourced, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a large, popular school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes within a non-selective state setting, particularly those who want a sixth form on site. The oversubscription data suggests it is a first-choice school for most local families, and the Progress 8 results confirm that pupils make better progress here than the average Cheshire East school.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hassall Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire East, ST7 2HR |
| Headteacher | Andrea O'Neill |
| Local Authority | Cheshire East |
| Number of Pupils | 1,519 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,519 / 1,575 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.21)
1069th of 3,141
Nationally
110th of 445
In North West
5th of 21
In Cheshire East
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.1
'22/23
34.3
'23/24
36.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2361%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 232 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)61%
- FE college24%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
- Sixth form college1%
96% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 154 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
22%
Russell Group
31%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)58%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology38
- Biology34
- Mathematics30
- Chemistry18
- Government and Politics17
- History16
- English Language14
- Physics14
- Design and Technology (Product Design)13
- Economics13
- Geography10
- Religious Studies8
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed262
434
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
259 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% 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 75% 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- Asian3.6%
- Mixed3.3%
- White (other)2.1%
- 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
2024/2575% 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
4
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 Alsager School
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
Hassall Road, Stoke-on-Trent
Cheshire East, ST7 2HR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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