John Taylor Free School
Burton-on-Trent, DE13 9SA · Staffordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
30th of 56 secondary schools in Staffordshire we can score, 70 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 899 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.4/10 among them, against 3.1/10 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 | 37.6 · 31 | 30% | 0.94 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.3 · 27 | 25% | 0.68 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.1 · 40 | 10% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
John Taylor Free School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with the last inspection in 2023. In 2024/25, 48.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.3 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.7 out of 10 either way).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,315 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,550. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How does the school ensure consistent teaching quality following the 2023 inspection?
What Ofsted said about John Taylor Free School
Overview
The report describes John Taylor Free School as a “diverse and vibrant place to learn” where leaders expect all pupils to achieve well. While the quality of education, personal development, and leadership are rated as Good, behaviour and attitudes require improvement due to inconsistencies in staff management.
Strengths
- Leaders have developed a curriculum that is “ambitious, broad and balanced,” with learning sequenced logically to meet pupils’ needs.
- Pupils usually develop a “good understanding of the subjects they study” and benefit from extensive enrichment opportunities.
- Staff accurately identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and ensure they are “taught well.”
- The school provides an “attractive and secure environment” where pupils feel safe and bullying is dealt with promptly.
- Leaders are “strong advocates of equality, diversity and opportunity,” fostering a tolerant and inclusive community.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should continue to support staff so that they “manage pupils’ behaviour consistently well,” as there is currently variation in adherence to routines.
- Staff need to apply the school’s behaviour management procedures in the way leaders expect to reduce disruption.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders being “vigilant in their work to protect pupils” and ensuring all staff understand how to identify those at risk.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.8 |
| 2024/25 | 46.4 |
| 2025/26 | 44.1 |
| 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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