The Link Academy
| Type | Secondary / Academy sponsor led |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Simms Lane Netherton Dudley West Midlands DY2 0PB |
| Phone | 01384986550 |
| Reference Number | 144952 |
The Link Academy has demonstrated a strong overall performance since its establishment, achieving a 'Good' rating across all domains of the inspection. The school has made significant improvements, with a well-defined curriculum and high expectations for pupils. Leaders have focused on creating a positive school culture, where pupils feel safe and supported, and have established effective systems for managing behaviour. The provision for pupils with special educational needs is notably improving, though there are areas where more specific strategies could enhance their learning across all subjects. Despite its strengths, the school does face challenges, particularly in ensuring that the diverse needs of pupils with SEND are consistently met in all subjects. Additionally, the curriculum for personal development needs further development to fully enrich pupils' understanding. However, the leadership's commitment to providing a high-quality education and the positive attitude of both staff and pupils suggest a strong foundation for future progress.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1014 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 49.31%
Girls: 50.69% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 49.7% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 24.6% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 22.6 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 89 | 118 | 207 |
| 8 | 102 | 107 | 209 |
| 9 | 103 | 87 | 190 |
| 10 | 112 | 100 | 212 |
| 11 | 94 | 102 | 196 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 46.9% |
| Pakistani | 24.6% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 5% |
| African | 4.7% |
| White, Other | 3.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 3.1% |
| Unclassified | 2.3% |
| White & Asian | 1.8% |
| Asian, Other | 1.2% |
| Caribbean | 1.1% |
| Indian | 1% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.8% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| Last Report Date | 08 Feb 2022 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 08 Feb 2022 | School inspection: |
Strengths
- High expectations for all pupils
- Well-designed and ambitious curriculum
- Strong behaviour management systems
- Effective pastoral support for pupil well-being
- Pupils produce high-quality work
- Strong subject knowledge among teachers
- High-quality teaching that supports learning well
- Effective safeguarding practices
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in meeting SEND needs across all subjects
- Personal development curriculum not always taught well
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 40.4 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 32.8% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 51.8% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 80 | 8 |
| Third Preference | 39 | 1 |
| From another Local Authority | 11 | 1 |
Previous Years
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UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
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