Meadowhead School Academy Trust
101%
Capacity
1,960
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Meadowhead School Academy Trust
Meadowhead School Academy Trust is a large, mixed state secondary in Sheffield, serving 1,960 pupils across the 11-18 age range. In the Sheffield local authority, it ranks 6th out of 29 schools of the same type, placing it comfortably in the top quarter locally. The three highest-performing peers in the authority are High Storrs School, King Ecgbert School, and Tapton School, all of which sit above Meadowhead on the local ranking. The school is non-denominational and is led by headteacher Kam Grewal-Joy. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when the school was graded Requires Improvement overall. Meadowhead is also the nearest Good-rated school to the outstanding King Ecgbert School, which is 4.4 kilometres away.
Academically, Meadowhead delivers solid, broadly average outcomes. Its Progress 8 score of 0.04 is above the Sheffield local authority average of -0.4, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than the typical student in the area. The Attainment 8 score sits at 46.7, and 67.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 21.4%, with 15.5% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score is 0.07, also in line with national averages, and the average grade per A-level entry is B-, with the best three A-levels averaging a B grade. The school’s Progress 8 banding is classified as Average nationally, and it ranks 1428th out of 3141 schools across England. While not among the very highest performers in Sheffield, Meadowhead offers a reliable, above-average academic experience compared with the wider local context.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 529 applications for 330 places, with 284 offers made to first-preference applicants from 294 first-preference requests. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.6, reflecting strong local demand. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, theatre, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports from martial arts to hockey, and clubs including Model UN, Young Enterprise, and an orchestra. SEND provision covers eight identified needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 35.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, Meadowhead serves a diverse intake. It suits families looking for a large, well-resourced comprehensive with a strong sixth form and a track record of steady improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Dyche Lane, Sheffield, Sheffield, S8 8BR |
| Headteacher | Kam Grewal-Joy |
| Local Authority | Sheffield |
| Number of Pupils | 1,960 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,960 / 1,950 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.04)
1428th of 3,141
Nationally
126th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
6th of 29
In Sheffield
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
43.4
'22/23
39.1
'23/24
37.6
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
2022/2355%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 309 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)55%
- FE college30%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
- Sixth form college1%
93% 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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 118 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
22%
Russell Group
24%
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)67%
- Employment14%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education2%
- Other 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- Biology35
- Mathematics32
- Sociology30
- Chemistry27
- English Language21
- English Literature21
- Geography20
- Psychology19
- Physics14
- History13
- Mathematics (Further)11
- Design and Technology (Product Design)9
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed330
529
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
294 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.6%
- Mixed8.1%
- Asian4.9%
- White (other)3.7%
- Black0.9%
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.
6
Total schools
6
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meadowhead School Academy Trust
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
Dyche Lane, Sheffield
Sheffield, S8 8BR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Meadowhead School Academy Trust!
Write a Review