Best secondary schools in Stafford (2026)
Stafford has 5 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Blessed William Howard Catholic School, in the top 21% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 45.1, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Stafford has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 21% in England |
Blessed William Howard Catholic School Stafford · Roman Catholic |
53.3 | 52.0 | 52% | No rating | |
2 Top 37% in England |
Walton High School Stafford |
49.2 | 50.6 | 50% | No rating | |
3 Top 47% in England |
Sir Graham Balfour High School Stafford |
47.0 | 45.0 | 38% | No rating | |
4 Bottom 46% in England |
The Weston Road Academy Stafford |
45.0 | 44.7 | 46% | No rating | |
5 Bottom 9% in England |
King Edward VI High School Stafford |
37.1 | 33.4 | 16% | Not judged |
Other towns in Staffordshire
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Stafford?
On exam results over the last three years, Blessed William Howard Catholic School is the top-ranked secondary school in Stafford, in the top 21% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.