School profile

The Rural Enterprise Academy

Secondary · Free schools · Penkridge, ST19 5PH

Inadequate

Map showing The Rural Enterprise Academy

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#3,044 of 3,312

Worse than 91% of schools in England

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

The Rural Enterprise Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 9 Jul 2024

Ofsted rating
Inadequate
Quality of education
Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes
Inadequate
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Inadequate
Safeguarding
Not effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFree schools
Ages11 to 16
Pupils217
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs Annabel Stoddart
TrustPENK VALLEY ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityStaffordshire
Opened01 Sept 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138351.

GCSE results

2025/26

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

MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.36.3, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire43.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.40%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire60.2%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.24%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire39.8%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.0%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire8.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths40%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire55.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 450--

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

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils217
Girls99
Boys118
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.28.6%
First language not English1.4%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.300
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.27.7%
Sixth form places2018/19120
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.71
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.16
Average class size21.7

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
91.7%
White and Black Caribbean
3.7%
Other White
1.4%
White and Black African
0.9%
Other mixed
0.9%
Traveller of Irish heritage
0.5%
White and Asian
0.5%
Other ethnic group
0.5%
Irish
0%
Gypsy/Roma
0%

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 teacher14.3
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.7.5
Teachers (FTE)15.2
Teaching assistants (FTE)8.32
Support staff (FTE)17.01
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2516
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2511
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/253

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.24
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.44
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.24
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.24
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)7

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 schoolStaffordshireEngland
Overall absence10.6%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire7.3%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.28.6%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire19.8%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.6.6%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire2.8%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 rate15.8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions7.5%
Permanent exclusion rate0.4%
Permanent exclusions1

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.82.9%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.74.3%
Further education60%
School sixth form14.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.11.4%
Apprenticeship5.7%
Employment2.9%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 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 The Rural Enterprise Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
1.4 miPrimaryPrincefield First SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.6 miSecondaryWolgarston High SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.6 miPrimarySt Michael's CofE (A) First SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
1.7 miPrimaryMarshbrook First SchoolAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Rural Enterprise Academy

What is The Rural Enterprise Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Rural Enterprise Academy is rated Inadequate by Ofsted, last inspected on 9 Jul 2024.

How does The Rural Enterprise Academy rank in England?

The Rural Enterprise Academy ranks 3,044 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 91% of schools).

What are The Rural Enterprise Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 24% of pupils at The Rural Enterprise Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 36.3 (England 46.2).

How hard is it to get into The Rural Enterprise Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Rural Enterprise Academy made 24 offers from 44 applications (1.8 per offer), and 24 of 24 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Rural Enterprise Academy?

The Rural Enterprise Academy has 217 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of The Rural Enterprise Academy?

The Rural Enterprise Academy had 300 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Rural Enterprise Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, The Rural Enterprise Academy has a sixth form with 120 places in 2018/19.

How big are classes at The Rural Enterprise Academy?

At The Rural Enterprise Academy, the average class had 21.7 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.3 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Rural Enterprise Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Rural Enterprise Academy missed 10.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 28.6% 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.