Secondary school

The Sutton Academy

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • St Helens
  • WA9 5AU
  • Sixth form
Ofsted report card · inspected Jun 2026

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,103 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 65%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 82%82%2016/17: top 62%2017/18: top 60%2018/19: top 62%2021/22: top 50%50% · 2021/222022/23: top 65%2023/24: top 63%2024/25: top 65%No exams

Against North West

Attainment 843.1 · North West 44.45/10 Middle−14.5 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths39.1% · North West 40%5/10 Middle−7.7 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.74 · North West 3.825/10 Middle−7.6 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.06 · North West −0.166/10 Middle+14.6 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry23.33 · North West 32.9Small cohort: 19 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 44.8 · 195 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 44 · 165 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 44.1 · 202 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 44 · 217 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 48.4 · 212 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 43.1 · 207 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 43.1 · 263 pupils · North West 442024/25: 43.1 · 256 pupils · North West 44.448.443.1No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 36% · 165 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 34% · 202 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 31% · 217 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 48% · 212 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 39% · 207 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 39.9% · 263 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 39.1% · 256 pupils · North West 40%48%31%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 14.43 · 71 pupils · North West 28.42016/17: 18.29 · 57 pupils · North West 29.242017/18: 18.9 · 34 pupils · North West 30.22018/19: 22.56 · 32 pupils · North West 31.62021/22: 27.8 · 43 pupils · North West 35.972022/23: 29.8 · 27 pupils · North West 31.932023/24: 25.32 · 42 pupils · North West 32.72024/25: 23.33 · 19 pupils · North West 32.929.814.43No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in85.2%
254 of 298 who put it first2014 · 98.7%2026 · 85.2%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st298254
2nd1411
3rd860

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2015–2026

  • InclusionStrong
  • AchievementExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected
  • Leadership and governanceExpected
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong
  • Post-16 provisionExpected
  • SafeguardingMet
  1. 2015Requires improvement
  2. 2017Requires improvement
  3. 2018Ungraded visit
  4. 2019Requires improvement
  5. 2021Ungraded visit
  6. 2021Ungraded visit
  7. 2022Good
  8. 2026Lowest Expected

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,441
Free school meals (past 6 years)40.4%
First language not English5.8%
SEN support18.9%
EHC plan3.5%
Absence (sessions missed)10.2%
Persistently absent pupils27.8%

Girls 50.1%Boys 49.9%

93% full · 1,550 places · 118 in sixth form

Parent View

Not published for this school

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher15.8
Pupils per adult11.9
  • Classroom teachers 83.4
  • Leadership 8
  • Teaching assistants 16.1
  • Other support 35.5

Teachers 91.4 FTE · Whole workforce 143 · 150 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£8,414
Spend per pupil£8,213
Staff spend per pupil£6,572
Reserve per pupil£311
  • +£451,000revenue reserve
  • +£291,000in-year balance

Grants £8,375 · self-generated £43 · premises £259 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: THE CHALLENGE ACADEMY TRUST (14 academies) · trust reserve £5,478,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

263 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained86.7%
  • Education81.7%
  • Apprenticeship3.4%
  • Employment1.5%
  • Not sustained9.5%
  • Unknown3.8%

After sixth form (16–18)

73 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained83.6%
  • Education52.1%
  • Higher education46.6%
  • Apprenticeship11%
  • Employment20.5%
  • Not sustained15.1%
  • Unknown1.4%