Charlton School
103%
Capacity
1,236
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Charlton School
Charlton School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.41 places it below the Telford and Wrekin local authority average of -0.26, meaning pupils here make less academic progress between age 11 and 16 than their peers across the borough. That gap is notable: the school sits 6th out of 10 state secondary schools in the LA, and in the bottom half nationally. Digging into the breakdown, the weakest subject area is maths, where Progress 8 drops to -0.62, while English is closer to the LA average at -0.22. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 38.5 also reflects a cohort that starts from a lower baseline. On the plus side, just over half of pupils (50.4%) achieve a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and 20.2% secure the English Baccalaureate at that threshold. The school is oversubscribed — 222 first-preference applications for 228 places — suggesting local families still see value here despite the below-average progress figures.
Ofsted visited in May 2023 and rated the school Good across all four categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant turnaround from the previous inspection in 2015, which judged the school Inadequate. Headteacher Sarah Barton has clearly driven improvement, and the inspection report notes that behaviour and attitudes are now Good — a critical factor for any secondary school. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake, with 26.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering ten categories including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication needs, and Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, and the school is mixed and non-denominational.
Facilities are generous for a state secondary: a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a chapel are among the offerings. Clubs include Debate, Science Club, Orchestra, and Eco Club, while sports range from rowing to martial arts. The school is oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.24, with 511 total applications for 228 places, so securing a spot is competitive. This school will suit families who value a broad range of extracurricular opportunities and strong SEND support, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that trail the LA average. The recent Ofsted upgrade suggests momentum is positive, but the data shows there is still ground to make up in core subjects, particularly maths.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Apley Avenue, Telford, Telford and Wrekin, TF1 3FA |
| Headteacher | Sarah Barton |
| Local Authority | Telford and Wrekin |
| Number of Pupils | 1,236 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,236 / 1,200 (103% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.41)
2466th of 3,141
Nationally
273rd of 371
In West Midlands
6th of 10
In Telford and Wrekin
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
2022/2315%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 220 pupils).
- Sixth form college38%
- FE college33%
- School sixth form (stay)15%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment2%
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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed228
511
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
222 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: charlton.uk.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.3%
- Asian11.2%
- Mixed6.5%
- White (other)5.8%
- Black0.6%
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.
75% 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Charlton 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
Apley Avenue, Telford
Telford and Wrekin, TF1 3FA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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