Schools by area › Wolverhampton › Smestow Academy
Smestow Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Windmill Crescent, Wolverhampton WV3 8HU · smestowacademy.co.uk · 01902 539500
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Nov 2025 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.6
- average Attainment 8 score. Wolverhampton 44.5, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 589
- 58% of 1,010 places
- Local authority
- Wolverhampton
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 59.1%
- First language not English
- 37.7%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Matrix Academy Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 40 families put the school first and 85 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 | 85 | 40 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 148 | 25 | 0.2 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 78 | 19 | 0.2 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 154 | 29 | 0.2 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 169 | 29 | 0.2 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.6, and 31.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wolverhampton it was 44.5, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (26.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.6 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼31.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼60.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲45.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.78 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 140586)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 47.8 | +10.7 |
| Sixth form college | 5.4 | +4 |
| Further education | 38 | −9.6 |
| Other education | 1.1 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 1.1 | −1 |
| Employment | 2.2 | +0.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.3 | −1.3 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 students | C- (26.5) | Average +0.01 | |
| 9 students | C- (26.5) | Average +0.01 | |
| 14 students | Merit (23.4) | Below average -0.40 | |
| 7 students | Merit (25) | Average -0.28 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 28 | D+ (22.2) | -0.02 |
| 2018/19 | 37 | C (29.4) | -0.07 |
| 2017/18 | 34 | C (29.5) | -0.08 |
| 2016/17 | 67 | C (30) | +0.12 |
| 2015/16 | 88 | C- (26.2) | -0.01 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 79.3 | −2.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.4 | — |
| Employment | 3.4 | −5.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.3 | +1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 3.4 | — |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Smestow Academy on 11 November 2025 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 11 Nov 2025
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Sept 2022
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 140586), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2022Inadequate
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Good Leadership and management Inadequate Sixth form Requires improvement Safeguarding Not effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 140586)
- Mar 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
May 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 140586)
Oct 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 140586)
Jun 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 140586)
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (34 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Positive
- 97%
- Replies
- 34
- 6% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on 8 parents (24%) whose child was bullied
based on 8 parents (24%) with SEND