Schools by area › Stoke-on-Trent › Discovery Academy
Discovery Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Discovery Drive, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 0GA · thediscoveryacademy.co.uk · 01782 882100
Overview
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement
- 2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 37.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Stoke-on-Trent 39.8, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,435
- 96% of 1,500 places
- Local authority
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 52%
- First language not English
- 10%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 208 families put the school first and 221 places were offered; 100% 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 | 221 | 208 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 283 | 223 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 285 | 240 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 295 | 262 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 295 | 300 | 1▲ | 95% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 37.4, and 28% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Stoke-on-Trent it was 39.8, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼37.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼28.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼52.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼23.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.01 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 1.9 | +1.5 |
| Sixth form college | 16.4 | +2.2 |
| Further education | 52.3 | −1.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 7.3 | +2.9 |
| Employment | 3.1 | −7.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 13.7 | +0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 5.3 | +2.2 |
Ofsted
Discovery Academy was judged Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, on 16 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Requires improvement
- Inspected
- 16 Apr 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Oct 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2015Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
62% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (73 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 62%
- Replies
- 73
- 5% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on the 53% who had a child bullied
based on 22 parents (30%) with SEND