Blessed William Howard Catholic School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted: Good

Rowley Avenue, Stafford, ST17 9ABOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Blessed William Howard Catholic School is a secondary school in Stafford for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 451 schools in Staffordshire. It ranks 1st of 7 secondary schools in Stafford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2012.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 9 October 2012, report published 6 November 2012

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 May 2024

The school motto 'love of God, love of people, love of learning, love of life' permeates throughout all aspects of school life. Pupils are proud and happy to be a part of this inclusive school. They feel cared for and safe when they are at school. Staff take the time to build positive relationships with pupils and pupils appreciate this. Pupils' best interests are at the heart of all that the school does. The school goes above and beyond to ensure that pupils are nurtured well so they can flourish. The Saint Siena room is dedicated to promoting the wellbeing and mental health of pupils. Pupils receive one to one targeted support for issues such as low mood, exam stress and friendship issues when required. This helps pupils to develop resilience and independence in overcoming challenges. Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour and pupils live up to these. They are motivated to learn in lessons, and they socialise well with peers of all ages at break and lunchtimes. There are a range of clubs on offer for pupils to take part in. For example, the disaster club allows pupils to discuss natural disasters, and the drama club is a favourite for those who take part in the whole school production. This helps pupils to develop their talents and interest.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

164 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score52.0

52.0, 5.9 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths52.4%

52.4%, 7 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths75%

75%, 10.2 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc73.8%

73.8%, 33.3 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score4.67

4.67, 0.58 above the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

49 students

Average point score per A level entry31.46

31.46, 3.54 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

950 pupils on roll, with places for 1,065

Eligible for free school meals22.2%

22.2%, 4.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language14%

14%, 7.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support11.7%

11.7%, 3.1 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.2%

4.2%, 1.8 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Blessed William Howard Catholic School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
King Edward VI High School0.4 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to goodAttainment 8: 33.4
Stafford Manor High School1 mileReport card: Urgent improvement to expected standardAttainment 8: 30.6
Stafford Grammar School1 mileNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 61.3
Sir Graham Balfour High School2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 45.0
The Weston Road Academy2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 44.7

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Sixth form
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Karl Brown
Address
Rowley Avenue, Stafford, ST17 9AB
Local authority
Staffordshire
URN
142193

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.