Staffordshire University Academy

Staffordshire University Academy has made notable improvements since its last inspection, now rated as 'Good' across all key areas. The school fosters a positive atmosphere where pupils enjoy learning and feel supported, highlighted by their participation in community activities and strong attendance in extracurricular programs. Leadership has effectively tackled past challenges related to staffing and attendance, resulting in a more engaged teaching staff and a robust curriculum that benefits all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Overall, the school is becoming more successful in delivering high-quality education, although the published outcomes do not yet reflect this progress.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a strong sense of community and support.
• The school has high expectations for pupil behaviour and they generally meet these expectations.
• Leaders have effectively improved curriculum and attendance.
• Reading is prioritized and support is provided for struggling readers.
• Pupils have opportunities for extensive extracurricular engagement.
• The character curriculum builds important life skills and knowledge.
• The careers program effectively prepares pupils for future opportunities.

Areas for Improvement

• The number of pupils studying a language at key stage 4 is low.
• There are inconsistencies in checking pupils' understanding before moving on in lessons.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Staffordshire University Academy attended 92.6% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 25.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 13.8% of pupils at Staffordshire University Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 7 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Staffordshire University Academy had 13.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.6% of pupils at Staffordshire University Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Staffordshire University Academy received £9,331 and spent £8,830 for each of its 674 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £736,000 (£1,093 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Staffordshire University Academies Trust, income was £7,351 and spending £7,265 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Cannock · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

Staffordshire University Academy is part of Staffordshire University Academies Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Littleton Green Community School Cannock
• All Saints CofE Primary School, Bednall Stafford
• Boney Hay Primary Academy Burntwood
• St Leonard's CofE First School Stafford
• St Paul's CofE First School Wolverhampton
• John Wheeldon Primary Academy Stafford
• Charnwood Primary Academy Lichfield
• Church Eaton Primary School Stafford
• Little Aston Primary Academy Sutton Coldfield
• Perton Primary Academy Wolverhampton

What is Staffordshire University Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Staffordshire University Academy is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Staffordshire University Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Staffordshire University Academy was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Staffordshire University Academy have?

Staffordshire University Academy has 709 pupils on roll.

What age range does Staffordshire University Academy cover?

Staffordshire University Academy for pupils aged 11 to 19.

What are Staffordshire University Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 33.3, and 12% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Staffordshire University Academy?

Staffordshire University Academy is at Marston Road, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS12 4JH.