Padgate Academy
Warrington, WA2 0LN · Warrington · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th of 13 secondary schools in Warrington 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 — 2.5/10 against 322 of them, against 1.2/10 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 | 25.8 · 9 | 30% | 0.26 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.66 · 10 | 25% | 0.24 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.6 · 27 | 10% | 0.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Padgate Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 29.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.66 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 661 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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 gap between their current Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific strategies are in place to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Padgate Academy
Overview
Padgate Academy is described as a "caring and welcoming learning environment" where pupils feel happy and safe. The report highlights a culture where diversity is valued, with effective systems in place to tackle bullying and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Leaders have designed a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with clear sequencing, helping pupils connect new knowledge to prior learning.
- Staff demonstrate "strong subject knowledge" and use suitable resources to aid understanding.
- Attendance has improved significantly through targeted strategies, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
- Pupils benefit from a "rich and diverse range of activities" and contribute positively to the school community as ambassadors.
- Leaders provide "comprehensive careers support" and have established rigorous systems for identifying and supporting pupils with SEND.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, teachers do not address misconceptions quickly enough, leading to gaps in pupils' knowledge; leaders must support teachers to use assessment strategies more effectively.
- Leaders have not sufficiently prioritised support for older pupils who struggle with reading; existing successful strategies for younger year groups should be rolled out to ensure older pupils become confident, fluent readers.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and leaders being "tenacious in their efforts to secure help for their most vulnerable pupils."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.7 |
| 2024/25 | 39.4 |
| 2025/26 | 41.6 |
| 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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