St Thomas More Catholic Academy
About St Thomas More Catholic Academy
St Thomas More Catholic Academy is a popular choice among Stoke-on-Trent families, with 474 applications for 198 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.39. Of those, 156 offers went to first-preference applicants out of 162 who listed the school as their top choice, suggesting strong local demand. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the high application numbers relative to places indicate a solid reputation. Headteacher Mark Rayner leads this Roman Catholic secondary for 11 to 18 year olds, which has capacity for 1135 pupils and currently enrols 1119. Over a third of students (37.1%) are eligible for free school meals, reflecting the school's inclusive intake. The most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 graded the school as Good overall, with Good ratings for leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and behaviour and attitudes. This was an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2015, and the ungraded inspection confirmed the school remains Good.
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
5 Oct 2022Latest monitoring visit (5 Oct 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 8 Jun 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
14Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Thomas More Catholic Academy
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications