Holden Lane Academy

About Holden Lane Academy

Holden Lane Academy is a state primary school in Stoke-on-Trent, serving 225 pupils aged 3 to 11 under headteacher Clare Jones. It sits within a local authority that contains 71 primary schools, of which 12 hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating — the nearest being New Ford Academy, just 1.2 kilometres away. Among its local peers, the school is ranked alongside Co-op Academy Glebe, Goldenhill Primary Academy, and Newstead Primary Academy, all of which share the same top ranking score of 90. The school is non-religious and mixed, with a nursery provision for younger children. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2024, confirmed that the school remains Good, a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, where it was rated Requires Improvement. Leadership and management were also judged Good, reflecting steady progress under the current leadership.

Academically, the school’s most recent Key Stage 2 outcomes are not individually published in the data, but the local authority average for KS2 attainment sits at 60. This provides a useful benchmark for parents comparing schools in the area. The school’s Ofsted history shows a clear upward trajectory: the 2013 graded inspection rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management also Good, whereas the 2010 inspection had rated the school Requires Improvement across all measured categories. The 2024 ungraded inspection found the school continues to meet the Good standard, with no decline noted. The school’s Progress 8 and A-Level data are not available, as it is a primary-only institution with no sixth form. For families focused on primary outcomes, the school’s consistent Good rating and its position among top-ranked local peers suggest solid academic foundations.

Holden Lane Academy offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, library, music rooms, dining hall, and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, swimming, cross country, athletics, tennis, and rounders, while after-school clubs include chess, coding, choir, eco club, film club, and gardening. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 36 applications for 27 places and 26 first-preference offers made from 26 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.33. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 57.3%, and its SEND provisions are well-documented, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This combination of strong pastoral support, varied enrichment, and a Good Ofsted rating makes it a practical choice for local families seeking a primary experience within the Stoke-on-Trent area.

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