John Taylor Free School
86%
Capacity
1,330
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About John Taylor Free School
John Taylor Free School is a popular choice among local families, with 498 applications for 220 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.26. Of those, 201 families put it as their first preference, and all of them were offered a place. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for ages 11 to 19, based in East Staffordshire. It currently has 1,330 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,550, so there is some room to grow. The most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, rated the school Good overall, though behaviour and attitudes were judged as Requires improvement. Leadership, quality of education, and personal development all came out as Good. The school has a sixth form and serves a community where 20.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, slightly above the national average.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 cohort was -0.3, which is classed as Below average nationally and places it 33rd out of 75 schools in Staffordshire. This is a little behind the local authority average of -0.18. The Attainment 8 score was 43.8, and 64.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 41.3% for grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 4.17, with 87.4% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects, but only 31.8% achieved a grade 4 or above across all five components. In the East Staffordshire area, John Taylor Free School ranks 5th out of 8 schools by Progress 8, putting it in the bottom half of its immediate local peers. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is John Taylor High School, 3.8 km away.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including science labs, a library, a sixth form centre, art studios, and playing fields. Sports provision is broad, with hockey, rugby, netball, swimming, martial arts, and athletics among the options. There is also a strong extracurricular programme featuring the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, debate, drama, and a range of music and science clubs. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Given its oversubscription and Good Ofsted rating, this school suits families who value a large, inclusive secondary with a wide choice of activities and a clear focus on academic improvement, particularly those living within a reasonable commute of the Burton-on-Trent area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Branston Road, Burton-on-Trent, East Staffordshire, DE13 9SA |
| Headteacher | Sophie Martin |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,330 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,330 / 1,550 (86% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 30 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.30)
2252nd of 3,141
Nationally
243rd of 371
In West Midlands
5th of 8
In East Staffordshire
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed220
498
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
201 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British51.7%
- Asian21.8%
- White (other)9.5%
- Mixed7.2%
- 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
2024/2575% 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.
3
Total schools
3
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About John Taylor Free 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
Branston Road, Burton-on-Trent
East Staffordshire, DE13 9SA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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