Schools by area › Staffordshire › Sir Graham Balfour High School
Sir Graham Balfour High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
North Avenue, Stafford ST16 1NR · sirgrahambalfour.co.uk · 01785 223490
On the mapSearch near ST16 1NR
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Oct 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 45
- average Attainment 8 score. Staffordshire 43.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,003
- 96% of 1,042 places
- Local authority
- Staffordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.2%
- First language not English
- 8.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 186 families put the school first and 185 places were offered; 95% 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 | 185 | 186 | 1▲ | 95% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 194 | 212 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 205 | 224 | 1.1▲ | 91% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 195 | 206 | 1.1▲ | 94% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 199 | 205 | 1▲ | 97% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45, and 37.6% 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 B- (36.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●45 | 46 | ||
| ▼37.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼56.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼36.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.07 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 124444)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 20 | −5.9 |
| Further education | 66.3 | +6.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 4 | −0.1 |
| Employment | 2.3 | −0.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.7 | −0.2 |
| Activity not captured | 1.7 | +1.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 students | B- (36.1) | Average -0.15 | |
| 35 students | B- (36) | Average -0.17 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34 | C+ (33.8) | -0.25 |
| 2022/23 | 53 | C+ (33.1) | — |
| 2021/22 | 46 | B- (38.2) | — |
| 2018/19 | 44 | B- (36.4) | +0.02 |
| 2017/18 | 70 | C (30.8) | -0.39 |
| 2016/17 | 81 | C (28.5) | -0.34 |
| 2015/16 | 51 | C (29.8) | -0.02 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 51.4 | −23.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 8.6 | +6.5 |
| Employment | 34.3 | +19.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.9 | +0.8 |
| Activity not captured | 2.9 | — |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 9 October 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Sir Graham Balfour High School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 8 Oct 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, May 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective May 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jan 2012Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
73% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (184 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 73%
- Replies
- 184
- 18% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied
based on 52 parents (28%) with SEND