Schools by area › Staffordshire › Blessed William Howard Catholic School
Blessed William Howard Catholic School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Rowley Avenue, Stafford ST17 9AB · bwh.staffs.sch.uk · 01785 244236
On the mapSearch near ST17 9AB
Overview
- Ofsted
- Improving
- Ungraded inspection · May 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52
- average Attainment 8 score. Staffordshire 43.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 950
- 89% of 1,065 places
- Local authority
- Staffordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.7%
- First language not English
- 14%
- 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 184 places were offered; 86% 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 | 184 | 208 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 180 | 194 | 1.1▲ | 84% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 211 | 221 | 1▲ | 88% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 188 | 163 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 166 | 138 | 0.8 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52, and 52.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Staffordshire it was 43.9, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (31.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52 | 46 | ||
| ▲52.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲75.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲73.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.67 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 124455)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 27.2 | −8.4 |
| Sixth form college | 1.2 | — |
| Further education | 60.7 | +4.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.3 | +1.6 |
| Employment | 1.2 | −0.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.8 | +1.7 |
| Activity not captured | 1.7 | −0.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 students | C (31.5) | Below average -0.42 | |
| 49 students | C+ (32.7) | Below average -0.33 | |
| 7 students | Dist+ (39.4) | Average -0.10 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 33 | C+ (34) | -0.11 |
| 2022/23 | 31 | C (30.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 53 | B- (36.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 39 | C+ (32.4) | +0.11 |
| 2017/18 | 53 | C (31.3) | -0.13 |
| 2016/17 | 65 | C- (25.6) | -0.15 |
| 2015/16 | 50 | C- (26.1) | +0.10 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 48.6 | −2.3 |
| Further and other education | 5.7 | −4.8 |
| Further education | 2.9 | −4.1 |
| Other education | 2.9 | −0.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.7 | +3.9 |
| Employment | 34.3 | +11.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.9 | −11.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.9 | — |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 22 May 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Blessed William Howard Catholic School was: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next.
- Outcome
- Improving
- Inspected
- 21 May 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective Oct 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2010Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (158 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 86%
- Replies
- 158
- 17% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on the 48% who had a child bullied
based on 58 parents (37%) with SEND