Dixons Pennine Academy
Stalybridge, SK15 3RR · Tameside · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 16 secondary schools in Tameside we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.3/10 against 482 of them, against 0.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.4 · 11 | 30% | 0.32 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.9 · 4 | 25% | 0.10 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.0 · 12 | 10% | 0.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dixons Pennine Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2024. In 2024/25, 13.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.8, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.9 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 592 pupils against a stated capacity of 790. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap with the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Dixons Pennine Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where "most pupils are proud to be part of this friendly school community" and enjoy strong relationships with staff. Leaders have overseen significant improvements to the curriculum and behaviour, resulting in current pupils "achieving far better than has been the case previously" despite historical challenges with attendance and attainment.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "broad and ambitious," with clear subject designs that allow pupils to "build their knowledge in a logical way."
- Pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), "learn well" and benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities and trips.
- Teachers typically possess "strong subject knowledge" and provide "clear explanations" and probing questions.
- The school offers well-designed lessons on modern society issues, such as sex and relationships, and provides age-appropriate careers advice.
- Leaders have been "considerate of staff’s workload and well-being" during a period of rapid improvement.
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, teachers do not always choose the most appropriate methods or check understanding carefully, leading to "gaps in their learning."
- A small proportion of pupils cause disruption because some staff do not apply the behaviour policy "consistently and effectively."
- Strategies to improve attendance are not yet effective for a small minority of pupils, including some with SEND, who miss out on important learning.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 32.7 |
| 2024/25 | 35.8 |
| 2025/26 | 38.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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