Watling Academy

Watling Academy has shown exceptional performance in its first inspection, achieving an overall effectiveness rating of 'Outstanding'. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity, providing an environment where pupils from diverse backgrounds feel valued and can thrive academically. High expectations from the leadership team ensure that pupils, including those with special educational needs, achieve well. Behaviour and attitudes towards learning are exemplary, with pupils expressing pride in their school and feeling safe and supported.

Strengths

• Exceptional leadership with high aspirations for all pupils
• Inclusive environment that values diversity
• Strong curriculum that effectively supports learning
• High standards of behaviour and excellent pupil attitudes
• Effective support and adaptations for pupils with SEND
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils
• Well-structured careers education program
• High levels of parental support and engagement

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 Watling Academy attended 92.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 22.3% 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, 6.2% of pupils at Watling Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 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 Watling Academy had 17.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.8% 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, 10.4% of pupils at Watling Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.7% 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 Watling Academy received £8,416 and spent £7,447 for each of its 1,504 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £974,000 (£648 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of The Alliance Schools Trust, income was £7,436 and spending £7,455 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 Milton Keynes · Milton Keynes local authority: places and applications

Watling Academy is part of The Alliance Schools Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Watling Primary School Milton Keynes
• Denbigh School Milton Keynes
• Loughton School Milton Keynes
• Brooksward School Milton Keynes
• Willen Primary School Milton Keynes
• Drayton Park School Milton Keynes

What is Watling Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Watling Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Watling Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Watling Academy was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Watling Academy have?

Watling Academy has 1,767 pupils on roll.

What age range does Watling Academy cover?

Watling Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Watling Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 49.1, and 53% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Watling Academy?

Watling Academy is at Barrosa Way, Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP.