Smestow Academy

About Smestow Academy

Smestow Academy sits within Wolverhampton’s secondary school landscape as a mixed, non-denominational state school for pupils aged 11 to 18. Among the 21 same-type schools in the local authority, it ranks 5th by Progress 8 score, placing it in the top quarter locally. The three highest-scoring peers in the area are Heath Park, The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton, and Wolverhampton Girls’ High School, the latter of which is also the nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted, at 2.2 km away. Smestow’s most recent graded inspection, in September 2022, judged the school Inadequate overall, with behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management both rated Inadequate. This was a downgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. On a more positive note, personal development was rated Good, and the quality of education and sixth-form provision were both judged Requires Improvement. The school has capacity for 1,010 pupils but currently enrols 552, and 53.9 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average.

Academically, Smestow’s 2023/24 GCSE results show a Progress 8 score of 0.31, which is above the Wolverhampton local authority average of -0.06 and places the school in the top 26 per cent nationally. This means pupils typically achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than similar students nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 44.3, and 60.9 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, dropping to 43.5 per cent at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.54, though only 10.9 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. At A-level, the school’s 28 sixth-form students achieved an average points per entry of 22.24, equivalent to a D+ grade, with a value-added score of -0.02, which is in the Average banding. The best three A-levels averaged a C- grade. No students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers tennis, swimming, netball, athletics, martial arts, and badminton, while clubs include Film, Art, Eco, Book, and Science clubs. Smestow’s SEND provision is extensive, covering nine categories from dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder to physical disability and speech, language and communication needs. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was not oversubscribed: 148 places were available, with 121 total applications and just 25 first-preference offers. This suggests it is a realistic option for families who may not secure a place at higher-demand local schools. Smestow is best suited to families who value strong academic progress relative to starting points, a wide range of facilities, and a sixth form that keeps options open, but who are comfortable with a school still working through significant Ofsted-identified challenges in leadership and behaviour.

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