Schools by area › Dudley › The Link Academy
The Link Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Simms Lane, Netherton, Dudley DY2 0PB · thelinkacademy.org.uk · 01384 986550
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 40.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Dudley 43, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,013
- 96% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Dudley
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 51.2%
- First language not English
- 24.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 174 families put the school first and 196 places were offered; 99% 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 | 196 | 174 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 204 | 196 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 202 | 187 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 206 | 187 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 171 | 144 | 0.8 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 40.4, and 32.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Dudley it was 43, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼40.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼32.8% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼56.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼18.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.48 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 103863)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 4 | +0.2 |
| Sixth form college | 3.4 | −2.6 |
| Further education | 70.1 | −3.8 |
| Employment | 1.1 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 14.7 | +4.4 |
| Activity not captured | 6.8 | +4.6 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Link Academy on 19 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 19 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 103863), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2016Inadequate
Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Not effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 103863)
What parents said
71% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (35 replies, to 2 January 2023).
- Recommend
- 71%
- Replies
- 35
- 4% · 2 Jan 2023
based on the 91% who raised concerns
based on the 51% who had a child bullied