Schools by area › St. Helens › The Sutton Academy
The Sutton Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Elton Head Road, St Helens WA9 5AU · thesuttonacademy.org.uk · 01744 678859
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.1
- average Attainment 8 score. St. Helens 41.8, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,441
- 93% of 1,550 places
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 39.1%
- First language not English
- 6.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 298 families put the school first and 255 places were offered; 85% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 255 | 298 | 1.2▲ | 85% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 254 | 259 | 1▲ | 97% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 265 | 283 | 1.1▲ | 91% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 265 | 339 | 1.3▲ | 75% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 264 | 289 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.1, and 39.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across St. Helens it was 41.8, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade D+ (23.3 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼39.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼55.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼34.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.74 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 30.4 | −1.7 |
| Sixth form college | 7.6 | −0.4 |
| Further education | 43.7 | +6.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.4 | −0.4 |
| Employment | 1.5 | −2.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.5 | −0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.8 | −0.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 students | D+ (23.3) | Well below average -0.93 | |
| 19 students | D+ (24) | Well below average -0.89 | |
| 28 students | Merit+ (27.5) | Average +0.14 | |
| 24 students | Dist- (32.4) | Above average +0.63 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42 | C- (25.3) | -0.73 |
| 2022/23 | 27 | C (29.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 43 | C- (27.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 32 | D+ (22.6) | -0.35 |
| 2017/18 | 34 | D (18.9) | -0.16 |
| 2016/17 | 57 | D- (18.3) | -0.52 |
| 2015/16 | 71 | E+ (14.4) | -0.60 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 46.6 | +6.6 |
| Further and other education | 5.5 | +0.2 |
| Further education | 2.7 | 0 |
| Other education | 2.7 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 11 | +4.3 |
| Employment | 20.5 | −11.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 15.1 | +1.8 |
| Activity not captured | 1.4 | −1.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Sutton Academy on 16 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 16 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jun 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective - Dec 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
- Mar 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
May 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Feb 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Jan 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
82% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (55 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 82%
- Replies
- 55
- 4% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 13 parents (24%) with SEND