Eaton Bank Academy
99%
Capacity
1,077
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Eaton Bank Academy
Eaton Bank Academy in Cheshire East was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025, with inspectors awarding Good across all five graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year sits at -0.13, which places it in the ‘Average’ banding nationally. That figure is slightly above the local authority average for Cheshire East of -0.17, meaning pupils here make progress broadly in line with the national average. Within the local authority, Eaton Bank ranks 13th out of 21 secondary schools on this measure, putting it in the bottom half of Cheshire East schools. Its Attainment 8 score of 46 is a solid middle-ground result, while 60.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate of 25.6% is modest, and 15.5% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form has 63 pupils and a value-added score of -0.07, which is also rated as Average. The average points per entry is 30.17, equivalent to a C grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a C grade too. Only 3.8% of sixth-formers achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The school’s Ofsted report noted that the sixth form is Good, and the leadership team under headteacher Edward O’Neill has maintained the Good rating the school has held since its previous inspection in 2015. Parent feedback from the Parent View survey (covering September 2024 to September 2025) shows 76% of respondents would recommend the school, with strong majorities agreeing their child is happy (79% combined strongly agree/agree) and feels safe (81%). However, only 33% of parents agreed that SEND children get the support they need, and 66% disagreed — the weakest area of the survey.
The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 209 first-preference applications for 209 total places and 314 applications overall, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.5. It offers a wide range of facilities including a sixth-form centre, science labs, tennis courts, and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, rugby, cricket, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs include chess, coding, debate, and gardening. The school’s SEND provisions cover seven areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 19.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, Eaton Bank serves a broadly representative intake. This is a solid, well-regarded local secondary that delivers average outcomes and is popular enough to be oversubscribed, making it a realistic option for families in the Congleton area who want a Good-rated school with a sixth form and a decent range of extracurriculars.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Jackson Road, Congleton, Cheshire East, CW12 1NT |
| Headteacher | Edward O'Neill |
| Local Authority | Cheshire East |
| Number of Pupils | 1,077 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,077 / 1,087 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Feb 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 31 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.13)
1831st of 3,141
Nationally
214th of 445
In North West
13th of 21
In Cheshire East
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
34.4
'22/23
32.6
'23/24
30.2
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
2022/2346%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 143 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)46%
- FE college33%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained5%
- Sixth form college4%
- Employment4%
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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2352%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 52 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
12%
Russell Group
18%
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)52%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship13%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education4%
- Other education4%
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- Psychology28
- Sociology15
- Mathematics14
- Geography13
- History12
- Business Studies:Single11
- Chemistry11
- Biology8
- Dance7
- Economics7
- Mathematics (Further)6
- Computer Studies / Computing5
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.
Ofsted Parent View
169 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed209
314
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
209 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% 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: eatonbankacademy.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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 British83.7%
- Mixed3.2%
- White (other)2.1%
- Asian1.3%
- 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.
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.
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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 Eaton Bank 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
Jackson Road, Congleton
Cheshire East, CW12 1NT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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