The Kingsway School

The Kingsway School demonstrates a strong overall performance, characterized by steady progress for pupils across various backgrounds, including disadvantaged and those with special educational needs. The school has successfully implemented a strategic approach to attendance, achieving rates in line with national averages. The culture within the school has notably improved since the last inspection, fostering inclusivity and respect among students, which contributes to a safe and positive learning environment. Leaders continue to drive improvements, focusing on enhancing curriculum delivery and providing strong support for teachers.

Strengths

• Effective safeguarding culture ensuring pupil safety.
• Strong progress made by disadvantaged pupils in English and mathematics.
• Inclusive practices effectively support pupils with SEND.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils promote a respectful environment.
• Clear strategic approach to improving attendance.
• Successful curriculum changes support pupil learning across subjects.

Areas for Improvement

• High prior attainers' attainment not meeting expectations.
• Some gaps in pupils' subject knowledge not being effectively addressed.

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 The Kingsway School attended 91.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 24.1% 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, 8.5% of pupils at The Kingsway School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 11 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 The Kingsway School had 16.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.2% 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, 17.1% of pupils at The Kingsway School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has resourced provision with 27 pupils.

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 The Kingsway School received £7,890 and spent £7,919 for each of its 1,292 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £419,000 (£324 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Education Learning Trust, income was £7,449 and spending £7,559 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 Cheadle · Stockport local authority: places and applications

The Kingsway School is part of Education Learning Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Gatley Primary School Stockport
• Meadowbank Primary School Cheadle
• Bredbury Green Primary School Stockport
• Werneth School Stockport

What is The Kingsway School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Kingsway School is Expected standard, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was The Kingsway School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Kingsway School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does The Kingsway School have?

The Kingsway School has 1,260 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Kingsway School cover?

The Kingsway School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Kingsway School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 48.4, and 49% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Kingsway School?

The Kingsway School is at Foxland Road, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 4QX.