School profile

Sir Graham Balfour High School

Secondary · Academy converter · Stafford, ST16 1NR

Good

Map showing Sir Graham Balfour High School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,884 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#889 of 2,536

Better than 64% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Sir Graham Balfour High School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 8 May 2014

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,003
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Matthew Mason
TrustINSIGHT MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityStaffordshire
Opened01 Sept 2016
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 142983.

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.44.7, similar to England, similar to Staffordshire43.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.63.9%, similar to England, better than Staffordshire60.2%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.40%, worse than England, similar to Staffordshire39.8%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.8.4%, worse than England, similar to Staffordshire8.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths60.6%, similar to England, better than Staffordshire55.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4155--

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 schoolStaffordshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.36.12, similar to England, better than Staffordshire33.4335
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels36.46, similar to England, similar to Staffordshire34.6435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better6.1%, worse than England, worse than Staffordshire13.5%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.15, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study38--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.c--

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 pupils1,003
Girls497
Boys506
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.20.8%
First language not English8.9%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,042
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.3.7%
Sixth form places2024/25120
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.168
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.31
Average class size24.2

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
82.5%
Other White
5.1%
Indian
2.3%
Other mixed
2%
White and Black Caribbean
1.6%
Other Asian
1.3%
Other ethnic group
1.3%
African
0.9%
White and Black African
0.7%
White and Asian
0.6%

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 teacher16.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.2
Teachers (FTE)60.13
Teaching assistants (FTE)16.5
Support staff (FTE)41.82
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2557.7
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2552.7
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.185
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.340
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.186
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.176
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

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 absence8.1%, similar to England, worse than Staffordshire7.3%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.21.6%, similar to England, similar to Staffordshire19.8%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4%, similar to 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 rate16.6%
Pupils with one or more suspensions6%
Permanent exclusion rate0.5%
Permanent exclusions5

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.92.6%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.86.3%
Further education66.3%
School sixth form20%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.7%
Apprenticeship4%
Employment2.3%
Sixth form college0%

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.94.3%
Higher education51.4%
Employment34.3%
Apprenticeship8.6%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.9%
Further education0%

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 Sir Graham Balfour High School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimaryParkside Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimaryTillington Manor Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Requires improvement
0.6 miPrimaryBeaconfields Primary SchoolFree schools
Unrated
0.9 miPrimarySt Patrick's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.1 miPrimaryJohn Wheeldon Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.4 miPrimaryDoxey AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Requires improvement
1.7 miPrimaryBurleyfields Primary SchoolFree schools
Unrated
1.8 miPrimarySt John's CofE Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about Sir Graham Balfour High School

What is Sir Graham Balfour High School's Ofsted rating?

Sir Graham Balfour High School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 8 May 2014.

How does Sir Graham Balfour High School rank in England?

Sir Graham Balfour High School ranks 1,884 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 889 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 64% of schools).

What are Sir Graham Balfour High School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 40% of pupils at Sir Graham Balfour High School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 44.7 (England 46.2).

What are Sir Graham Balfour High School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Sir Graham Balfour High School was B-, and 6.1% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Sir Graham Balfour High School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Sir Graham Balfour High School made 185 offers from 340 applications (1.8 per offer), and 176 of 186 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Sir Graham Balfour High School?

Sir Graham Balfour High School has 1,003 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Sir Graham Balfour High School?

Sir Graham Balfour High School had 1,042 school places in 2024/25.

Does Sir Graham Balfour High School have a sixth form?

Yes, Sir Graham Balfour High School has a sixth form with 120 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Sir Graham Balfour High School?

At Sir Graham Balfour High School, the average class had 24.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Sir Graham Balfour High School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Sir Graham Balfour High School missed 8.1% of sessions (England 8%), and 21.6% 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.