The Winsford Academy
Winsford, CW7 2BT · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
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20th of 20 secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.3/10 against 478 of them, against 0.2/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 18.9 · 3 | 46% | 0.14 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.1 · 2 | 38% | 0.07 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 32.0 · 2 | 15% | 0.03 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Winsford Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 13.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 30.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.1 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 (0.1 out of 10 either way).
Getting in
The published school roll is 945 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,312. 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 interventions are in place for students with a negative Progress 8 score?
What Ofsted said about The Winsford Academy
Overview
The report states that the quality of education and behaviour are ‘Inadequate’, while personal development and leadership ‘Require improvement’. Inspectors found that ‘most pupils underachieve considerably’ due to weak curriculum delivery and inconsistent behaviour management, although the school is ‘better placed to make the necessary improvements’ following recent governance changes.
Strengths
- The new interim executive board has ‘enhanced the governance of the school’ and improved support for leadership.
- Pupils have opportunities to expand interests through activities like ‘cheerleading club’ and ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’.
- Staff ‘appreciate the support that they receive to manage their workload and well-being’.
- The school has ‘strengthened how it identifies any additional needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)’.
- Classrooms are ‘calmer and there are fewer truancy incidents’ following recent behaviour initiatives.
Areas to improve
- Staff must develop skills to ‘design learning activities that help pupils to progress successfully through the curriculum’ as the intended curriculum is not delivered well.
- The school should ensure ‘behaviour expectations are applied fairly and consistently’ to address off-task behaviour and derogatory language.
- Attendance strategies need strengthening, as ‘many pupils, particularly pupils with SEND, miss school frequently’.
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 | 29.3 |
| 2024/25 | 30.6 |
| 2025/26 | 32.0 |
| 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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