Aldridge School - A Science College
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,629 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.2
Academy sponsor led
Grace Academy Darlaston
- Pupils on roll
- 1,059of 1,075 places
- Free school meals
- 56.2%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 172
- Ofsted
- Report card, 21 April 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Expected standardAchievement Expected standardAttendance and behaviour Expected standardPersonal development and wellbeing Strong standardInclusion Expected standardLeadership and governance Expected standardPost-16 provision Expected standardSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Darlaston Community Science College (URN 104249, until 1 September 2009).
What the data says
Of the 175 pupils who finished Year 11 at Grace Academy Darlaston in 2023, 34% stayed on in Grace Academy Darlaston’s own sixth form (Walsall average 43%), 49% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 35 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 63% went to university (Walsall 35%, England 37%), and 11% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
A level grades average D+, well below the England average of B-; 0% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Biology, Sociology and Mathematics.
GCSE results in 2025 were below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 41.2 against 46.1 across England and 43.0 in Walsall, with 30% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Walsall and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Grace Academy Darlaston | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 175 | 3,611 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 89% | 90% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 83% | 85% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 34% | 43% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 49% | 41% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 1% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 5% | 4% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Grace Academy Darlaston | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 35 | 3,439 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 89% | 75% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 63% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 11% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 6% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 11% | 24% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 19% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Grace Academy Darlaston | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 41.2 | 43.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 30% | 39% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 54% | 57% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 5% | 36% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.36 | 3.77 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 45% | 40% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 36.4 | 34.4 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 45.2 | 48.6 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 16% | 21% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 171 | 99% | 88% | 15% | 22% | 63% |
| English Language | 171 | 99% | 89% | 11% | 20% | 53% |
| English Literature | 170 | 99% | 86% | 14% | 21% | 62% |
| Combined Science | 133 | 77% | 65% | 4% | 9% | 33% |
| History | 111 | 65% | 41% | 18% | 26% | 48% |
| Geography | 67 | 39% | 41% | 16% | 25% | 51% |
| Business Studies | 54 | 31% | 18% | 13% | 20% | 52% |
| Chemistry | 36 | 21% | 23% | 44% | 47% | 94% |
| Physics | 36 | 21% | 23% | 36% | 46% | 92% |
| Biology | 36 | 21% | 23% | 25% | 45% | 94% |
| Citizenship Studies | 29 | 17% | 3% | 0% | 19% | 38% |
| Religious Studies | 29 | 17% | 31% | 14% | 32% | 62% |
| Sociology | 26 | 15% | 4% | 23% | 21% | 73% |
| Psychology | 22 | 13% | 3% | 32% | 22% | 77% |
| Textiles | 22 | 13% | 2% | 5% | 27% | 36% |
| Fine Art | 21 | 12% | 9% | 19% | 28% | 71% |
| German | 8 | 5% | 5% | 25% | 33% | 63% |
| Punjabi | 1 | 1% | 0% | — | 48% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 66 | 100% | — |
| Health Studies | 44 | 100% | — |
| Engineering Studies | 44 | 100% | — |
| Sports Studies | 38 | 100% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 28 | 97% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 18 | 62% | — |
| Additional Mathematics FSMQ | 4 | 14% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Grace Academy Darlaston | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 75 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 29 | 1,281 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 24.95 | 33.52 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | D+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 0% | 20% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 12 | 41% | 20% |
| Sociology | 8 | 28% | 13% |
| Mathematics | 8 | 28% | 31% |
| Chemistry | 8 | 28% | 17% |
| English Literature | 7 | 24% | 11% |
| Geography | 7 | 24% | 10% |
| Art and Design | — | — | 1% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 45% | — |
| Psychology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 45% | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 12 | 41% | — |
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 9 | 31% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 28% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 21% | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 6 | 21% | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Walsall
Barr Beacon School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,469 pupils
90% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.0
Bloxwich Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,383 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 32.9
Blue Coat Church of England Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 972 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.4
Brownhills Ormiston Academy
Academy converter · 778 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.1
Joseph Leckie Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,524 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.4
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.