SCHOOL PROFILE

Blackfriars Academy

Not applicable Academy special converter URN 141448
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 120 Published school capacity
Capacity used 100.8% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 19 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest ungraded inspection

11 October 2023
Latest published outcome School remains Outstanding
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Academy special converter
Phase Not applicable
Gender Mixed
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority Staffordshire
Trust THE SHAW EDUCATION TRUST
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 121 121 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 37 30.6% of pupils
Male pupils 84 69.4% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

42.1%
17.3 pts above England
School 42.1%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 21.1%
West Midlands 30.6%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

5.0%
15.3 pts below England
School 5.0%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 10.1%
West Midlands 22.4%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

0.0%
1.0 pts below England
School 0.0%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 0.3%
West Midlands 0.6%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
84.3%
102
Any other White background
3.3%
4
African
1.7%
2
Any other Mixed background
1.7%
2
Indian
1.7%
2
White and Asian
1.7%
2
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 100.0% 121 of 121 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 19.9%
West Midlands 21.1%
England 20.8%
SEN support 0.0% 0 pupils
England 14.8% 14.8 pts below
EHC plans 100.0% 121 pupils
England 6.0% 94.0 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder 34
Physical disability 28
Speech, language & communication 20
Moderate learning difficulty 12
Severe learning difficulty 12
Profound & multiple learning difficulty 5

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Key stage 4 outcomes

Published Department for Education results for 2023/24.

2023/24
ATTAINMENT 8

Average attainment score

0.5 39.2 pts below England
School 0.5
Newcastle-under-Lyme 32.2
West Midlands 38.4
England 39.7
English & maths grade 5+ 0.0% England 37.1% 37.1 pts below England
English & maths grade 4+ 0.0% England 52.3% 52.3 pts below England
EBacc entry 0.0% England 31.3% 31.3 pts below England
EBacc average point score 0.03 England 3.46
Progress 8 -1.71 2023/24

Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE

Attendance profile

Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.

2024/25
ABSENCE RATE

Overall absence

10.84%

Percentage of possible sessions missed.

4.62 pts higher than England
School 10.84%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 5.53%
West Midlands 6.28%
England 6.22%
ABSENCE RATE

Persistent absence

30.51%

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

14.69 pts higher than England
School 30.51%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 12.97%
West Midlands 16.42%
England 15.82%
ABSENCE RATE

Severe absence

3.39%

Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.

1.59 pts higher than England
School 3.39%
Newcastle-under-Lyme 1.26%
West Midlands 1.82%
England 1.80%
Council, regional and national comparisons are averages of published school-level percentages rather than pupil-weighted official absence rates.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open not applicable schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

100.8% 21.1 pts above England
Blackfriars Academy
100.8%
Newcastle-under-Lyme
82.1%
West Midlands
76.9%
England
79.8%
Benchmarks use open schools in the same phase. Capacity utilisation is calculated from published pupil and capacity figures.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information