Gladstone Primary Academy

Gladstone Primary Academy is a larger-than-average primary school in an area of high deprivation, with above-average levels of disadvantage. It is part of the Societas Trust, and since the previous inspection a new headteacher and deputy headteacher have taken up post. Inspectors found the school performing solidly overall, with safeguarding effective and all inspected areas meeting the expected standard. Pupils benefit from a warm, inclusive culture. Attendance is good, behaviour is positive, and pupils feel safe and respected. The curriculum is well sequenced from the early years, phonics and reading are taught consistently, and provision for children in early years is strong. Leaders identify barriers early and support pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those known to social care. New leaders have invigorated the school, and governance and trust support are strong. Staff feel well supported, and personal development is broad. Practice is not yet fully consistent. Some staff do not focus sharply enough on the important knowledge pupils need to remember or ensure pupils act on feedback to make the best progress. Some staff also need support to tailor learning adaptations more effectively for pupils with SEND. In addition, disadvantaged pupils' outcomes in combined measures and mathematics remain below national averages, though leaders monitor this closely and provide targeted support.

Strengths

• Safeguarding is effective, with an open culture and pupils who feel safe.
• Pupils behave well, show respect and resilience, and engage enthusiastically in lessons.
• Attendance is strong, and persistent absence has reduced through effective support.
• The curriculum is well sequenced from early years and tailored to pupils' needs.
• Phonics teaching is consistent, and reading books closely match pupils' phonics knowledge.
• Early years provision is a priority, building communication, social and physical skills.
• Inclusion is a strength, with early identification and coordinated support for SEND and social care.
• Disadvantaged pupils are prioritised through challenge meetings and targeted funding.
• New leaders have invigorated the school and are well supported by trustees and governors.
• Staff feel fairly treated, and leaders consider workload and wellbeing.
• Personal development is broad, including safety, careers, British values and cultural experiences.
• Pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education, with improving Year 6 outcomes.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff do not consistently focus on the important knowledge pupils need to remember over time.
• Some staff do not ensure pupils respond to feedback well enough to make the best progress.
• Not all staff are adept at tailoring learning adaptations for pupils with SEND to reduce barriers effectively.
• Disadvantaged pupils' combined and mathematics outcomes remain below national averages, with large gaps.

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 Gladstone Primary Academy attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.1% 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, 1.5% of pupils at Gladstone Primary Academy 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 Gladstone Primary Academy had 22.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.1% 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, 15.8% of pupils at Gladstone Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 Gladstone Primary Academy received £6,909 and spent £6,657 for each of its 458 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £4,000 (-£8 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of The Societas Trust, income was £6,126 and spending £5,893 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

Gladstone Primary Academy is part of The Societas Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Ash Green Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Carmountside Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Ellison Primary Academy Newcastle
• Burnwood Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Ball Green Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Summerbank Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Goldenhill Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Alsagers Bank Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent

What is Gladstone Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Gladstone Primary Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Gladstone Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Gladstone Primary Academy was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Gladstone Primary Academy have?

Gladstone Primary Academy has 457 pupils on roll.

What age range does Gladstone Primary Academy cover?

Gladstone Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Gladstone Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Gladstone Primary Academy?

Gladstone Primary Academy is at Anchor Road, Sandford Hill, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST3 5EW.