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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 136141

The Sutton Academy

Academy sponsor led · St Helens · WA9 5AU

Ages 11–18 · 1,441 pupils · St. Helens

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

Attainment 8

43.1

Overall absence

10.3%

Admissions demand

1.07 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-06-16

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
  • InclusionStrong standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.06
−20+2
Attainment 843.1
English & maths grade 5+40%
English & maths grade 4+56%
EBacc entry40%

EBacc APS: 3.7

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence10.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)27.1%
Unauthorised6.3%
Authorised absence
4.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.8%
Enrolments in measure
1,371

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

1.07 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

283

Places offered

265

1st-preference offers

258

Total preferences (any rank)
492
Preferred offers (top 3)
265
Applications from outside LA
5
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
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 fill93%

1,441 pupils · 1,550 places

Pupils on roll
1,441
Boys / girls
723 / 718
School capacity
1,550
Capacity fill
1,441 / 1,550 (93%)
Free school meals
39.1%
FSM pupils
522
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE CHALLENGE ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE CHALLENGE ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
The Challenge Academy Trust
Headteacher
Ms Lynsey Gobin

Location

Address
Elton Head Road
Postcode
WA9 5AU
Town
St Helens
County
Merseyside
Local authority
St. Helens
District
St. Helens
Constituency
St Helens South and Whiston
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 academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–18, in St Helens, St. Helens, 1,441 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 39.1%.

Open schools in St Helens
53
Secondary schools in St Helens
7
Academies among open schools in St Helens
25% (13)
Open schools in WA9
22
Secondary in WA9
2
Open schools in St. Helens LA
80
Secondary in St. Helens LA
9

Nearby secondary schools

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

Compare with theseAll in St HelensNear WA9

  • Rainhill High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Prescot · L35 6NY · St. Helens

    Ages 11–18

    • Att847.3
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+45%
    • Absence7.1%

    1.4 miles away

  • St Cuthbert's Catholic High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    St Helens · WA9 3HE · St. Helens

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.1
    • P8-1.1
    • EM5+27%
    • Absence14.1%

    1.7 miles away

  • De La Salle School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    St. Helens · WA10 4QH · St. Helens

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM24.9%

    2.5 miles away

  • Cowley International College

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Community school · Secondary

    St Helens · WA10 6PN · St. Helens

    Ages 11–18

    • Att841.7
    • P8-0.7
    • EM5+29%
    • Absence12.5%

    2.8 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Lynsey Gobin
Telephone
01744678859
Website
https://www.thesuttonacademy.org.uk/

Official links