Classpot

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6LZSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2026
Progress 8
-0.44
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
217 1st-choice / 209 places
Ranking
#2,510
of 3,141 nationally

About St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 439 applications for 209 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.1. Of those, 197 offers went to first-preference applicants out of 217 who listed the school as their top choice, suggesting strong local demand. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in September 2021, confirmed it remains Good, and its previous graded inspection in 2013 also rated overall effectiveness as Good. Leadership and management were judged Good in that graded inspection. While the school does not publish a parent-view survey result, the high application numbers and first-preference rate indicate that many families in Stoke-on-Trent actively seek a place here.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressLittle Chell Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6LZ
HeadteacherDominic McKenna
Local AuthorityStoke-on-Trent
Number of Pupils1,139
Free School Meals (FSM)36.5%
School Capacity1,139 / 1,200 (95% full)
Sixth FormYes

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 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

29 Sept 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (29 Sept 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 4 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Music RoomsSixth Form CentreTheatrePlaying FieldsAstro TurfSwimming PoolScience LabsICT SuiteDining HallSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

RowingRoundersFootballDanceTennisRugbyCricketMartial ArtsSwimmingBadminton

Clubs & Activities

DebateEco ClubChessFilm ClubOrchestraGardeningYoung EnterpriseModel United NationsBook Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Breakfast club

07:30-08:40

Source: stmargaretward.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.