School profile

Sandbach School

Secondary · Free schools · Sandbach, CW11 3NS

Good

Map showing Sandbach School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,660 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,360 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Sandbach School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 18 Mar 2025

Area360 rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFree schools
Ages11 to 19
Pupils1,534
GenderBoys
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs Sarah Burns
TrustSANDBACH SCHOOL
Local authorityCheshire East
Opened01 Sept 2011
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137491.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.45.9, similar to England, similar to Cheshire East46.946.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.65.8%, similar to England, similar to Cheshire East66.9%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.41.5%, worse than England, worse than Cheshire East45.3%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.11.9%, worse than England, similar to Cheshire East12.6%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths61.2%, similar to England, similar to Cheshire East62.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4260--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.33.21, similar to England, similar to Cheshire East33.5835
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average points, best three A-levels33.87, similar to England, similar to Cheshire East34.335.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better12.2%, worse than England, similar to Cheshire East13.1%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.04, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study132--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,534
Girls95
Boys1,439
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.12.8%
First language not English6.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,450
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25250
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.228
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.57
Average class size21.3

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
80.3%
Other White
4.2%
Other mixed
1.7%
White and Asian
1%
African
1%
White and Black Caribbean
0.7%
Other ethnic group
0.7%
Chinese
0.6%
Indian
0.5%
Other Asian
0.5%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.3
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.8
Teachers (FTE)100.49
Teaching assistants (FTE)28.39
Support staff (FTE)68.1
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2596.8
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2583.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/258.6
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/255

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.236
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.403
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.253
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.232
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)13

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Overall absence6.1%, better than England, better than Cheshire East7.5%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.15.9%, better than England, better than Cheshire East19.1%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.1.7%, better than England, better than Cheshire East3.1%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate14.1%
Pupils with one or more suspensions5.3%
Permanent exclusion rate0.3%
Permanent exclusions4

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.96.6%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.89%
School sixth form51.1%
Further education34.1%
Apprenticeship5.7%
Sixth form college2.7%
Employment1.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.1.1%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.90.4%
Higher education54.8%
Employment20.5%
Apprenticeship13%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.7.5%
Further education1.4%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Sandbach School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimarySandbach Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.2 miNot applicableThe Lodge APOther independent school
Unrated
0.2 miSecondarySandbach High School and Sixth Form CollegeAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimaryOffley Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryWheelock Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimaryElworth Hall Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimaryElworth CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
1.2 miPrimarySt John's CofE AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Inadequate

Frequently asked questions about Sandbach School

What is Sandbach School's Ofsted rating?

Sandbach School is rated Good, last inspected on 18 Mar 2025. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does Sandbach School rank in England?

Sandbach School ranks 1,660 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,360 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are Sandbach School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 41.5% of pupils at Sandbach School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 45.9 (England 46.2).

What are Sandbach School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Sandbach School was C+, and 12.2% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Sandbach School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Sandbach School made 236 offers from 403 applications (1.7 per offer), and 232 of 253 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Sandbach School?

Sandbach School has 1,534 pupils aged 11 to 19.

What is the capacity of Sandbach School?

Sandbach School had 1,450 school places in 2024/25.

Does Sandbach School have a sixth form?

Yes, Sandbach School has a sixth form with 250 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Sandbach School?

At Sandbach School, the average class had 21.3 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.3 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Sandbach School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Sandbach School missed 6.1% of sessions (England 8%), and 15.9% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.