Discovery Academy
Discovery Drive, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 0GAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Discovery Academy is a secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 113 schools in Stoke-on-Trent. It ranks 23rd of 24 secondary schools in Stoke-on-Trent. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in April 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 16 April 2024, report published 13 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 16 April 2024
Pupils enjoy coming to this very inclusive school. They feel safe because they have absolute confidence that staff are there to help and support them whatever the problem might be. Pupils say that expectations of their behaviour and academic achievement have risen significantly over the last year. The vast majority of pupils strive to meet them and appreciate the rewards they gain when they do so. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and respectful. Pupils are usually considerate of each other. They care about their peers and are eager to help when needed. This is reflected in the many pupils involved in leadership roles, such as mentoring and reading buddies. Classrooms are calm environments for learning. An ambitious curriculum is in place across all subjects. However, curriculum delivery is stronger in some areas than others. This means that sometimes, pupils are less interested in learning and do not do as well as they could. Pupils have increasingly high aspirations. These are well supported through the focus on providing a wide range of cultural and social experiences for all. Pupils speak with excitement of the trips, clubs and visitors to the school that help them shape their ambitions and focus their learning.
What the school should improve
- Assessment information is not used well enough. As a result, feedback for pupils is not always helpful or followed up by teachers. This means that pupils, including those with SEND, do not make the progress they should. The school should ensure that assessment information is consistently used to provide accurate feedback to ensure that pupils always know what to do to improve, and that they are supported to do it.
- In some subjects, teachers are not confident enough to make use of teaching strategies that foster pupil independence. This limits pupils' ability to apply what they have learned when they do not have recourse to teacher instruction. The school should ensure that teachers are supported to develop their pedagogical repertoire and their confidence to use it.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
289 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
1,435 pupils on roll, with places for 1,500
Schools near Discovery Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| St Thomas More Catholic Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 43.4 |
| Kinetic Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate | Not published |
| St Peter's CofE Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 34.4 |
| Moorside High School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.4 |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ALPHA ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Ms Jayne Schofield
- Phone
- 01782882100
- Address
- Discovery Drive, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 0GA
- Local authority
- Stoke-on-Trent
- URN
- 136681
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.