Cowley International College
Community school · sixth form · 1,514 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.3
Academy sponsor led
The Sutton Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,441of 1,550 places
- Free school meals
- 39.1%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 256
- Ofsted
- Report card, 16 June 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Strong standardAchievement Expected standardAttendance and behaviour Expected standardPersonal development and wellbeing Strong standardInclusion Strong standardLeadership and governance Expected standardPost-16 provision Expected standardSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Sutton High Sports College (URN 104825, until 1 September 2010).
What the data says
Of the 207 pupils who finished Year 11 at The Sutton Academy in 2023, 23% stayed on in The Sutton Academy’s own sixth form (St. Helens average 18%), 41% went to a further education college and 4% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 72 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 29% went to university (St. Helens 31%, England 37%), and 3% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
13% of leavers were not in sustained education, employment or training six months on, compared with 6% 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%).
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 St. Helens and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | The Sutton Academy | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 207 | 1,990 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 83% | 88% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 78% | 82% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 23% | 18% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 14% | 25% | 13% |
| — further education college | 41% | 37% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 13% | 8% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 4% | 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 | The Sutton Academy | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 72 | 2,392 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 75% | 74% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 29% | 31% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 3% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 9% | 7% |
| Employment | 33% | 27% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 15% | 20% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | The Sutton Academy | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 43.1 | 41.8 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 39% | 36% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 55% | 57% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 35% | 34% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.74 | 3.59 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 36% | 31% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 32.6 | 30.2 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 49.1 | 47.0 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 6% | 5% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Literature | 263 | 100% | 86% | 8% | 21% | 48% |
| English Language | 255 | 100% | 89% | 21% | 20% | 64% |
| Mathematics | 254 | 99% | 88% | 18% | 22% | 64% |
| Combined Science | 186 | 73% | 65% | 11% | 9% | 61% |
| History | 121 | 47% | 41% | 23% | 26% | 59% |
| Geography | 114 | 45% | 41% | 18% | 25% | 53% |
| Spanish | 93 | 36% | 19% | 20% | 27% | 74% |
| Physics | 71 | 28% | 23% | 7% | 46% | 41% |
| Biology | 69 | 27% | 23% | 7% | 45% | 41% |
| Chemistry | 55 | 21% | 23% | 15% | 47% | 55% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 55 | 21% | 8% | 9% | 21% | 65% |
| Physical Education | 45 | 18% | 11% | 18% | 24% | 67% |
| Art and Design | 34 | 13% | 7% | 44% | 24% | 94% |
| Design and Technology | 22 | 9% | 11% | 23% | 23% | 86% |
| Computer Science | 20 | 8% | 13% | 10% | 30% | 45% |
| Music | 17 | 7% | 5% | 6% | 33% | 76% |
| Dance | 10 | 4% | 1% | 40% | 27% | 100% |
| Religious Studies | 9 | 4% | 31% | 44% | 32% | 78% |
| Sociology | 1 | 0% | 4% | — | 21% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 74 | 100% | — |
| Small Business Management | 48 | 100% | — |
| Health Studies | 46 | 100% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 40 | 100% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 35 | 100% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 32 | 100% | — |
| Personal Health | 15 | 79% | — |
| Sports Studies | 14 | 74% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 13 | 68% | — |
| Art and Design | 6 | 32% | — |
| Animal Care (Non-Agricultural) | 5 | 26% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | The Sutton Academy | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 118 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 19 | 945 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 23.33 | 36.64 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | D+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 0% | 19% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 10 | 53% | 23% |
| English Language and Literature | 6 | 32% | 2% |
| History | — | — | 13% |
| Mathematics | — | — | 31% |
| Product Design | — | — | 2% |
| Chemistry | — | — | 17% |
| Biology | — | — | 20% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 14 | 74% | — |
| Health Studies | VRQ Level 3 | 14 | 74% | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | 8 | 42% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 8 | 42% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 7 | 37% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 6 | 32% | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 6 | 32% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Tourism | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Nutrition / Diet | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Speech and Drama | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in St. Helens
De La Salle School
Academy sponsor led · 1,180 pupils
85% stayed in education
Hope Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,235 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.8
Outwood Academy Haydock
Academy sponsor led · 791 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.2
Rainford High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,646 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.6
Rainhill High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,535 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.9
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.