Watling Academy
Free schools; sixth form; mixed; ages 11 to 18; 1,767 pupils; Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP; URN 147860
Watling Academy’s latest inspection, on 16 May 2023, gave an overall grade of Outstanding on the old four-point scale. Of the eight state secondary schools nearest to it, one has a report card, three have key judgements without an overall grade and four have an ungraded inspection. The oldest verdict, at The Hazeley Academy, dates from 14 February 2024; the latest, at Stantonbury School, from 3 March 2026.
Watling Academy and the eight state secondary schools nearest to it
From Watling Academy’s position in the register of schools, in a straight line, among the open state schools in England that teach pupils of secondary age or students aged 16 and over (special schools and further education colleges are not included). Each mark sits at the exact date of the school’s latest inspection in Ofsted’s data as at 30 September 2026.
here
Watling Academy
MK8 1EP, Milton Keynes; sixth form
Outstanding overall grade on the old four-point scale, 16 May 2023GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 49.1 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 52.8% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: not in the DfE’s file under this school’s number (URN)
Ofsted report for Watling AcademyThe key judgements, one by one
- Quality of education: outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes: outstanding
- Personal development: outstanding
- Leadership and management: outstanding
1.1 mi1,770 m SE
MK8 0PT, Milton Keynes; sixth form
School remains Good ungraded inspection, 14 February 2024GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 47.4 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 50.4% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade C+, 32.61 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for The Hazeley Academy1.5 mi2,465 m E
Denbigh School
MK5 6EX, Milton Keynes; sixth form
Standards maintained ungraded inspection, 27 November 2024GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 56.2 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 64.0% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade C+, 32.83 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for Denbigh School1.8 mi2,911 m N
The Radcliffe School
MK12 5BT, Milton Keynes; sixth form
Key judgements, no overall grade graded inspection, 4 March 2025GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 40.3 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 35.5% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade C, 29.41 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for The Radcliffe SchoolThe key judgements, one by one
- Quality of education: requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes: good
- Personal development: good
- Leadership and management: good
- Sixth form provision: good
2.3 mi3,711 m SE
Shenley Brook End School
MK5 7ZT, Milton Keynes; sixth form
School remains Good ungraded inspection, 7 March 2024GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 44.9 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 43.6% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade C, 30.08 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for Shenley Brook End School2.7 mi4,381 m NW
Elizabeth Woodville School
MK19 6HN, West Northamptonshire; sixth form
Key judgements, no overall grade graded inspection, 4 March 2025GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 45.2 (West Northamptonshire 46.0, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 37.7% (West Northamptonshire 45.4%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade D+, 24.11 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for Elizabeth Woodville SchoolThe key judgements, one by one
- Quality of education: good
- Behaviour and attitudes: good
- Personal development: good
- Leadership and management: good
- Sixth form provision: requires improvement
2.9 mi4,629 m NE
Stantonbury School
MK14 6BN, Milton Keynes; sixth form
Report card inspected 3 March 2026; safeguarding metGCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 32.8 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 26.9% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade D+, 21.84 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for Stantonbury SchoolThe report card, area by area
- Inclusion: expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: needs attention
- Achievement: urgent improvement
- Attendance and behaviour: urgent improvement
- Personal development and wellbeing: expected standard
- Leadership and governance: urgent improvement
- Post-16 provision: expected standard
- Safeguarding: met
3.0 mi4,863 m E
St Paul's Catholic School
MK6 5EN, Milton Keynes; sixth form
Standards maintained ungraded inspection, 14 May 2025GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 43.9 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 37.7% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: average grade C, 28.98 points per entry (England B-, 35.00)
Ofsted report for St Paul's Catholic School3.1 mi4,990 m E
The Milton Keynes Academy
MK6 5LA, Milton Keynes; sixth form
Key judgements, no overall grade graded inspection, 13 May 2025GCSE 2025/26, provisional: Attainment 8 40.1 (Milton Keynes 44.2, England 46.2); grades 5+ in English and maths 28.8% (Milton Keynes 44.2%, England 46.3%); A level 2024/25: not in the DfE’s file under this school’s number (URN)
Ofsted report for The Milton Keynes AcademyThe key judgements, one by one
- Quality of education: good
- Behaviour and attitudes: good
- Personal development: good
- Leadership and management: good
See more schools around it: the next schools by distance, or the nearest sixth forms.
The latest inspection, in detail
| Key judgement | Position on the four-point scale | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding | |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding | |
| Personal development | Outstanding | |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
These grades come from the inspection system used before 10 November 2025; Ofsted says they cannot be compared with the new report cards. How to read these grades.
Exam results
| Measure | This school | Milton Keynes | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Attainment 8 score | 49.1 | 44.2 | 46.2 |
| Percentage of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs | 52.8% | 44.2% | 46.3% |
| Percentage of pupils achieving grades 4 or above in English and maths GCSEs | 71.2% | 62.4% | 64.8% |
England and Milton Keynes: all state-funded schools. Provisional figures can be revised by the Department for Education. The 2025/26 data gives no Progress 8 scores.
A level 2024/25: the Department for Education’s file has no results under this school’s register number (URN).
Nearby schools with a page on this site
- The Hazeley Academy Milton Keynes, 1.1 mi in a straight line
- Aylesbury Grammar School Buckinghamshire, 15.2 mi in a straight line
- Northampton Academy West Northamptonshire, 15.5 mi in a straight line
In the register of schools
Watling Academy is a state-funded mixed secondary school in Milton Keynes, for pupils aged 11 to 18, with a sixth form. The register counts 1,767 pupils for a capacity of 2,250. Trust: THE ALLIANCE SCHOOLS TRUST. Address: Barrosa Way, Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP. Website: watlingacademy.net/.
For school places, distance is measured as set out in each school’s admission arrangements, which may differ from a straight line: check them with the school or the council.
Sources
- Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance, academic year 2025/26 (provisional), school, local authority and England data, accessed 31 October 2026.
- Department for Education: 16 to 19 performance, academic year 2024/25 (final), A level results by school and for England, accessed 31 October 2026.
- Department for Education: Get Information about Schools, register of schools (all establishments, 30 October 2026), accessed 30 October 2026.
- Ofsted: management information, state-funded schools, latest inspections as at 30 September 2026, accessed 30 October 2026.