Barr Beacon School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,469 pupils
90% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.0
Academy converter
Aldridge School - A Science College
- Pupils on roll
- 1,629of 1,489 places
- Free school meals
- 30.2%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 271
- Ofsted
- School remains Good, 26 May 2022Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Aldridge School - A Science College (URN 104263, until 1 April 2012).
What the data says
Of the 257 pupils who finished Year 11 at Aldridge School - A Science College in 2023, 45% stayed on in Aldridge School - A Science College’s own sixth form (Walsall average 43%), 45% went to a further education college and 2% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 140 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 64% went to university (Walsall 35%, England 37%), and 22% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
German is unusually popular at GCSE: 22% of the year group took it, against 5% of pupils across England.
A level grades average C, well below the England average of B-; 7% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Mathematics and Chemistry.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Walsall and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 257 | 3,611 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 94% | 90% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 91% | 85% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 45% | 43% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 45% | 41% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 5% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 1% | 4% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 140 | 3,439 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 87% | 75% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 64% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 22% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 4% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 14% | 24% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 10% | 19% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 45.2 | 43.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 41% | 39% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 66% | 57% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 53% | 36% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.16 | 3.77 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 28% | 40% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 33.3 | 34.4 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 49.7 | 48.6 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 10% | 21% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 267 | 99% | 89% | 12% | 20% | 72% |
| Mathematics | 267 | 99% | 88% | 16% | 22% | 71% |
| English Literature | 258 | 95% | 86% | 12% | 21% | 71% |
| Combined Science | 203 | 75% | 65% | 3% | 9% | 60% |
| History | 163 | 60% | 41% | 20% | 26% | 69% |
| Business Studies | 120 | 44% | 18% | 9% | 20% | 47% |
| Geography | 95 | 35% | 41% | 23% | 25% | 65% |
| French | 86 | 32% | 18% | 10% | 29% | 64% |
| Physics | 61 | 23% | 23% | 51% | 46% | 95% |
| German | 60 | 22% | 5% | 28% | 33% | 97% |
| Chemistry | 58 | 21% | 23% | 41% | 47% | 98% |
| Biology | 58 | 21% | 23% | 62% | 45% | 98% |
| Citizenship Studies | 57 | 21% | 3% | 32% | 19% | 68% |
| Fine Art | 50 | 18% | 9% | 10% | 28% | 68% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 36 | 13% | 8% | 3% | 21% | 81% |
| Computer Science | 36 | 13% | 13% | 28% | 30% | 67% |
| Graphic Communication | 35 | 13% | 1% | 0% | 23% | 43% |
| Music | 28 | 10% | 5% | 50% | 33% | 89% |
| Physical Education | 27 | 10% | 11% | 33% | 24% | 89% |
| Religious Studies | 25 | 9% | 31% | 24% | 32% | 60% |
| Ancient History | 20 | 7% | 0% | 25% | 37% | 70% |
| 3D Design | 19 | 7% | 2% | 37% | 16% | 95% |
| Drama | 15 | 6% | 7% | 0% | 27% | 53% |
| Spanish | 2 | 1% | 19% | — | 27% | — |
| Chinese | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
| Modern Greek | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 33% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Studies | 66 | 77% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 41 | 48% | — |
| Sports Studies | 24 | 28% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 2 | 2% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 210 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 86 | 1,281 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 28.55 | 33.52 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 7% | 20% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 28 | 33% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 19 | 22% | 31% |
| Chemistry | 17 | 20% | 17% |
| Media Studies | 17 | 20% | 4% |
| History | 17 | 20% | 13% |
| Biology | 17 | 20% | 20% |
| Physics | 13 | 15% | 12% |
| Politics | 12 | 14% | 6% |
| Business Studies | 12 | 14% | 13% |
| Physical Education | 9 | 10% | 3% |
| English Language | 9 | 10% | 4% |
| Sociology | 8 | 9% | 13% |
| Graphic Communication | 8 | 9% | 2% |
| Geography | 6 | 7% | 10% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Economics | — | — | 13% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| Ancient History | — | — | 0% |
| Textiles | — | — | 1% |
| Music | — | — | 0% |
| Music Technology | — | — | 0% |
| Religious Studies | — | — | 4% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 17 | 20% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 16 | 19% | — |
| Nutrition / Diet | VRQ Level 3 | 12 | 14% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 12 | 14% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 12 | 14% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | — | — | — |
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Joseph Leckie Academy
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Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.