St Aidan's Church of England High School
About St Aidan's Church of England High School
Parents considering St Aidan's Church of England High School will find strong signals of popularity and satisfaction. The school is heavily oversubscribed, with 897 applications for 270 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.32. Of those applicants, 298 put it as their first preference, and 249 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests a school that local families actively choose. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with two standout Outstanding judgements: behaviour and attitudes, and sixth-form provision. This is a notable turnaround from the previous inspection in 2021, where the school was rated Inadequate overall. Under headteacher Sian Dover, leadership and management are now rated Good, and personal development is also Good. With 2,026 pupils on a capacity of 1,903, the school is operating above its official capacity, which reflects its popularity.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 May 2022Source: Ofsted, 14 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:25
Source: staidans.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Aidan's Church of England High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
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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