Star Academy, Sandyford

Star Academy, Sandyford has demonstrated notable improvement since its previous inspection, achieving a 'Good' rating across all domains. The leadership has fostered a welcoming atmosphere that contributes to pupils feeling safe, happy, and engaged in their learning. The school's approach to education is characterized by high expectations and a broad curriculum that encourages personal development and independence among pupils. There is a strong culture of kindness and respect, with effective support for pupils, including those with special educational needs.

Strengths

• Calm and inviting school environment
• Strong community relationships with families and pupils
• High expectations for staff and pupils
• Effective support for pupils with SEND
• Encouragement of personal development and leadership
• High attendance rates
• Strong emphasis on reading across subjects

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of new phonics curriculum by some staff
• New subject leaders need support in monitoring subject delivery

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 Star Academy, Sandyford attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 0.0% of pupils at Star Academy, Sandyford were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No 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 Star Academy, Sandyford had 16.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 33.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 26.6% of pupils at Star Academy, Sandyford were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Star Academy, Sandyford received £7,696 and spent £7,228 for each of its 172 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £31,000 (£178 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Academy Transformation Trust, income was £9,055 and spending £8,540 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 Stoke-On-Trent · Stoke-on-Trent local authority: places and applications

Star Academy, Sandyford is part of Academy Transformation Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Sun Academy Bradwell Newcastle-Under-Lyme
• Jubilee Academy Mossley Walsall
• Pool Hayes Academy Willenhall
• Phoenix Academy Walsall
• North Walsall Primary Academy Walsall
• Caldmore Primary Academy Walsall
• Sutton Community Academy Sutton-In-Ashfield
• Bristnall Hall Academy Oldbury
• The Queen Elizabeth Academy Atherstone
• The Dukeries Academy Newark

What is Star Academy, Sandyford's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Star Academy, Sandyford is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.

When was Star Academy, Sandyford last inspected by Ofsted?

Star Academy, Sandyford was last inspected in November 2022.

How many pupils does Star Academy, Sandyford have?

Star Academy, Sandyford has 128 pupils on roll.

What age range does Star Academy, Sandyford cover?

Star Academy, Sandyford for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Star Academy, Sandyford's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Star Academy, Sandyford?

Star Academy, Sandyford is at Burnaby Road, Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 5PT.