Watling Academy

About Watling Academy

Watling Academy is a free school in Milton Keynes, England, for pupils aged 11–18. It has 1,500 pupils on roll. It is part of THE ALLIANCE SCHOOLS TRUST. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (16 May 2023) rated it Outstanding. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 49.1 (2025/26). 22.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 27.1% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority

Milton Keynes →

School Type

Free schools

Phase

Secondary

Age Range

Ages 11–18

Gender

Mixed

Pupils / Capacity

1,500 / 2,250 (67%)

Sixth Form

Has a sixth form

Nursery

No Nursery Classes

Religious Character

None

Admissions Policy

Non-selective

Last Ofsted Inspection

16 May 2023

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address

Barrosa Way, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP

Phone

01908794094

Head Teacher

Emma Anderson

Website

https://watlingacademy.net/

Academy Trust

Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Watling Academy?

Watling Academy is a free school in Milton Keynes, England, for pupils aged 11–18.

How many pupils does Watling Academy have?

Watling Academy has 1,500 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is Watling Academy's Ofsted rating?

Watling Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection (16 May 2023).

How does Watling Academy perform at GCSE?

Pupils at Watling Academy achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 49.1 in 2025/26.

Is Watling Academy part of an academy trust?

Yes — Watling Academy is part of THE ALLIANCE SCHOOLS TRUST.

Where is Watling Academy?

Watling Academy is located at Barrosa Way, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP.