Kingsmead School
114%
Capacity
1,429
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Kingsmead School
Kingsmead School is a mixed state secondary in Cannock Chase that is significantly over-subscribed, a clear signal of its local standing. With 1,429 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,257, the school is operating well above its official limit. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 498 applications for 260 places, with 315 families putting it as their first preference. That works out at nearly two applicants for every spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 18.3%, which is higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, the school has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2021, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The inspection report highlighted personal development as Outstanding, with leadership, behaviour, and the quality of education all judged Good.
Academically, Kingsmead delivers results that comfortably outstrip the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.44 means pupils here achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than pupils with similar starting points nationally. That places the school first out of five schools in Cannock Chase and in the top 20% nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 51.3 is solid, and 74.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.19 is rated Above Average, with pupils averaging a B- grade per entry. The best three A-levels come out at a B grade on average. The EBacc entry rate is low at 11.8%, which suggests the school does not push the full EBacc combination, but the EBacc average point score of 4.27 is respectable. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.18, so Kingsmead is performing well above its peers in Staffordshire.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a dedicated Sixth Form Centre. Sports provision is strong with options like cricket, gymnastics, and dance, and there are plenty of extracurricular clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and a debate club. Kingsmead has a comprehensive SEND offer, covering support for dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities among others. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children need additional support within a mainstream setting. The school is non-denominational and does not have a nursery or boarding provision. Given its strong academic outcomes, oversubscription, and wide-ranging facilities, Kingsmead is particularly well-suited to families in Cannock Chase and the surrounding area who want a high-performing state secondary with a genuine sixth form and a strong track record of adding value for pupils from all backgrounds.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Kings Avenue, Hednesford, Cannock, Cannock Chase, WS12 1DH |
| Headteacher | Paul Averis |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,429 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,429 / 1,257 (114% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Dec 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.44)
591st of 3,141
Nationally
55th of 371
In West Midlands
1st of 5
In Cannock Chase
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
39.5
'22/23
35.1
'23/24
36.4
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
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 181 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college36%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
- 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
2022/2346%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 70 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
18%
Russell Group
20%
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)46%
- Employment33%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Further 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- Mathematics18
- Psychology15
- English Literature14
- Biology12
- Sociology11
- Business Studies:Single10
- History10
- Physics6
- Chemistry5
- Computer Studies / Computing5
- Geography5
- Mathematics (Further)5
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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed260
498
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
315 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: kingsmeadschool.net. 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British93.2%
- Mixed2.9%
- White (other)1.7%
- Asian0.5%
- Black0.1%
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.
Half 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.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
9
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 Kingsmead 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
Kings Avenue, Hednesford, Cannock
Cannock Chase, WS12 1DH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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