Classpot

The Link Academy

Dudley, DY2 0PBSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2022
Progress 8
-0.02
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
196 1st-choice / 204 places
Ranking
#1,553
of 3,141 nationally

About The Link Academy

The Link Academy in Dudley has undergone a significant turnaround since its last full inspection. Rated Inadequate in 2016, the school was judged Good across all categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management under headteacher Emma Edwards-Morgan. On the academic front, the school’s Progress 8 score sits at -0.02, which is broadly in line with the national average and notably above the Dudley local authority average of -0.08. This places the school 8th out of 17 secondary schools in the borough when ranked by Progress 8, and in the top half nationally at the 49th percentile. The Attainment 8 score of 39.8 reflects a solid baseline, while 51.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school’s EBacc average point score of 3.33 is modest, and only 6.8% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, a figure well below the national average.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSimms Lane, Dudley, Dudley, DY2 0PB
HeadteacherEmma Edwards-Morgan
Local AuthorityDudley
Number of Pupils1,014
Free School Meals (FSM)49.7%
School Capacity1,014 / 1,050 (97% full)

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

8 Feb 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 31 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Sixth Form CentreTennis CourtsICT SuitePlaying FieldsTheatreSwimming PoolDining HallArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

SwimmingFootballBasketballCross CountryGymnasticsTennisMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubYoung EnterpriseScience ClubArt ClubModel United NationsFilm ClubNewspaperOrchestraDramaCoding

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Link Academy

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