Paulet High School
100%
Capacity
899
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Paulet High School
Paulet High School is a popular choice among local families, with 168 first-preference applications for 170 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, resulting in an oversubscription ratio of 1.75. Of those first-preference applicants, 162 received offers, indicating strong demand. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a consistent performance, as its previous inspection in 2016 also awarded a Good overall effectiveness rating. With 899 pupils on roll against a capacity of 903, the school is operating at near-full capacity, and 25.5 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, slightly above the national average. The school’s facilities are notably extensive for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a gymnasium, alongside a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and chapel.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.69 is well below the national average and places it in the bottom 50 nationally, ranking 8th out of 8 schools in East Staffordshire and 334th out of 371 in the West Midlands. This is significantly below the local authority average Progress 8 of -0.18. The Attainment 8 score stands at 40.3, and 53 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, while only 24.8 per cent achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.6, with 38.3 per cent of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At sixth form, the value-added score is -0.44, placing progress in the below average band, with an average points per entry of 27.3, equivalent to a C- grade. The best three A-levels average a grade C, with 4 per cent of entries achieving AAB or higher.
Paulet High School offers a broad range of extracurricular activities, including Young Enterprise, Model UN, Debate, and Eco Club, alongside sports such as rowing, rugby, and gymnastics. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, supporting students with autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, social and emotional mental health difficulties, and physical disabilities, among others. For families considering this school, the strong oversubscription suggests it is well-regarded locally, but the academic outcomes are notably below both the local and national averages. The school may suit families who prioritise a Good Ofsted rating, a wide array of facilities and clubs, and a supportive SEND framework over top-tier academic performance. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy, is just 0.4 km away, offering a nearby alternative for those seeking higher academic outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Violet Way, Burton-on-Trent, East Staffordshire, DE15 9RT |
| Headteacher | Ian McArthur |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 899 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.5% |
| School Capacity | 899 / 903 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.69)
2837th of 3,141
Nationally
334th of 371
In West Midlands
8th of 8
In East Staffordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
32.2
'22/23
22.8
'23/24
27.3
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: 146 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)46%
- FE college38%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship3%
95% 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
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 60 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
14%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)60%
- Employment25%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained7%
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- English Literature18
- Psychology16
- Mathematics15
- History14
- Physics14
- Biology10
- Chemistry10
- Sociology9
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
- Geography5
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed170
297
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
168 families put this school as their 1st choice (57% 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 British73.3%
- White (other)13.3%
- Mixed5.7%
- Asian4.3%
- 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.
7
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 Paulet High 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
Violet Way, Burton-on-Trent
East Staffordshire, DE15 9RT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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