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Sir Graham Balfour High School

Stafford, ST16 1NRSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2024
Progress 8
-0.17
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
212 1st-choice / 194 places
Ranking
#1,942
of 3,141 nationally

About Sir Graham Balfour High School

Sir Graham Balfour High School is a mixed state secondary in Stafford that is currently running close to capacity, with 998 pupils against a school capacity of 1042. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.4%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 335 applications for 194 places, with 212 of those coming as first preferences. This oversubscription ratio of 1.73 means the school is a popular choice locally, and 182 first-preference offers were made, indicating that most families who put it top got in, though not all.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressNorth Avenue, Stafford, Stafford, ST16 1NR
HeadteacherMatthew Mason
Local AuthorityStaffordshire
Number of Pupils998
Free School Meals (FSM)19.4%
School Capacity998 / 1,042 (96% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 184 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

9 Oct 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (9 Oct 2024): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 6 Jun 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
ICT SuiteSwimming PoolDining HallAstro TurfSixth Form CentreLibraryArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

AthleticsSwimmingGymnasticsMartial ArtsDanceRowingCross CountryCricket

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubModel United NationsNewspaperGardeningYoung EnterpriseDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sir Graham Balfour High School

Sir Graham Balfour High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.