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OpenAll-throughOfsted: GoodURN 145863

Armfield Academy

Free schools · Blackpool · FY4 1TL

Ages 3–16 · 1,221 pupils · Blackpool

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

35.2

Overall absence

9.8%

Admissions demand

0.85 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-02-07

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-1.11
−20+2
Attainment 835.2
English & maths grade 5+23%
English & maths grade 4+38%
EBacc entry63%

EBacc APS: 3.2

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.8%
Unauthorised5.8%
Authorised absence
4.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.3%
Enrolments in measure
1,119

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.85 · Often has places

1st preferences

135

Places offered

158

1st-preference offers

133

Total preferences (any rank)
314
Preferred offers (top 3)
158
Applications from outside LA
28
Offers to outside-LA applicants
3
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill100%

1,221 pupils · 1,220 places

Pupils on roll
1,221
Boys / girls
629 / 592
School capacity
1,220
Capacity fill
1,221 / 1,220 (100%)
Free school meals
39.9%
FSM pupils
475
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 3–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: FYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
FYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Fylde Coast Academy Trust
Headteacher
Mr Mark Kilmurray

Location

Address
488 Lytham Road
Postcode
FY4 1TL
Town
Blackpool
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Blackpool
District
Blackpool
Constituency
Blackpool South
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (all-through), Ages 3–16, in Blackpool, Blackpool, 1,221 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 39.9%.

Open schools in Blackpool
48
All-through schools in Blackpool
2
Academies among open schools in Blackpool
69% (33)
Open schools in FY4
16
All-through in FY4
1
Open schools in Blackpool LA
51
All-through in Blackpool LA
2

Nearby all-through schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BlackpoolNear FY4

  • Thames Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Blackpool · FY4 1EE · Blackpool

    Ages 2–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence6.2%
    • FSM62.0%
    • Demand0.96

    0.2 miles away

  • South Shore Academy

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackpool · FY4 2AR · Blackpool

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM67.6%

    0.5 miles away

  • Roseacre Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Blackpool · FY4 2PF · Blackpool

    Ages 3–11

    • KS249%
    • Absence5.8%
    • FSM43.6%
    • Demand1.25

    0.5 miles away

  • St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Blackpool · FY4 2AU · Blackpool

    Ages 2–11

    • KS248%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM43.3%
    • Demand0.86

    0.5 miles away

  • Hawes Side Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Blackpool · FY4 3LN · Blackpool

    Ages 4–11

    • KS222%
    • Absence7.5%
    • FSM38.5%
    • Demand0.94

    0.7 miles away

  • Highfield Leadership Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackpool · FY4 3JZ · Blackpool

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.4
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence15.9%

    0.8 miles away

  • Spen Brook School

    Other independent special school

    FY4 5AJ · Blackpool

    Ages 11–17

    • Att85.5
    • EM5+0%

    0.8 miles away

  • Waterloo Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Blackpool · FY4 3AG · Blackpool

    Ages 3–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence7.3%
    • FSM57.3%
    • Demand0.96

    0.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Mark Kilmurray
Telephone
01253207702
Website
http://www.armfieldacademy.co.uk

Official links