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Most Improving Schools in England 2026

The 100 schools across England showing the strongest combined improvement signals — Ofsted journey, attendance trend, and overall trajectory.

By the numbers

100
most improving schools
75
primary
25
secondary
100
have climbed out of Inadequate

Top 100 most improving schools

# Signals
1 Monega Primary School London Primary 82 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Jan 2022 ageing
2 Stillington Primary School York Primary 80 Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2024
3 St Patrick's Catholic College, A Voluntary Catholic Academy Stockton-on-Tees Secondary 80 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2021 ageing
4 Astrea Academy Woodfields Doncaster Secondary 80 Inadequate → Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2024
5 Farnborough Spencer Academy Nottingham Secondary 80 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2022
6 Armley Park Primary School Leeds Primary 80 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Apr 2024
7 St Columba CE Primary School Fareham Primary 80 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2024
8 The Lowry Academy Manchester Secondary 80 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2024
9 The Meadows Primary School Bristol Primary 79 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2022 ageing
10 Cage Green Primary School Tonbridge Primary 79 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2023
11 Blaise High School Bristol Secondary 79 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2023
12 Antingham and Southrepps Primary School Norwich Primary 78 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2023
13 The Hyndburn Academy Blackburn Secondary 78 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2022 ageing
14 St Luke's Church of England School Exeter Secondary 78 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2024
15 Beddington Park Academy Croydon Primary 78 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Oct 2023
16 Turves Green Boys' School Birmingham Secondary 78 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2024
17 E-ACT Shenley Academy Birmingham Secondary 77 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Inadequate Dec 2018 ageing
18 Richard de Clare Community Academy Halstead Primary 77 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2022 ageing
19 Bordesley Village Primary School Birmingham Primary 77 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2021 ageing
20 Holybrook Primary School Bradford Primary 77 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Apr 2022 ageing
21 St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Bolton Primary 77 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Apr 2024
22 E-ACT Nechells Academy Birmingham Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2021 ageing
23 Pembroke Park Primary School Salisbury Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Dec 2023
24 Copperfield Academy Gravesend Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2021 ageing
25 Twydall Primary School and Nursery Gillingham Primary 76 Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2023
26 Royal Rise Primary School Tonbridge Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2021 ageing
27 Trinity Academy Grammar Sowerby Bridge Secondary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2023
28 Tilstock CofE Primary and Nursery Whitchurch Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Apr 2022 ageing
29 The Adeyfield Academy Hemel Hempstead Secondary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2023
30 Brookfields Primary School Birmingham Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2023
31 Harris Primary Academy Croydon Croydon Primary 76 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Sep 2023
32 West Grantham Church of England Primary Academy Grantham Primary 76 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Oct 2023
33 Fulwood Academy Preston Secondary 75 Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2023
34 Bay Leadership Academy Morecambe Secondary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Oct 2022
35 Badocks Wood E-ACT Academy Bristol Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2022
36 City of London Academy Highbury Grove London Secondary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Apr 2022 ageing
37 Westgate Hill Primary Academy Newcastle-upon-Tyne Primary 75 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Oct 2021 ageing
38 St Edward's CofE Primary School Shrewsbury Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Apr 2022 ageing
39 Yeo Valley Primary School Barnstaple Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2023
40 South Norwood Primary London Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2023
41 The Welldon Park Academy Harrow Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2023
42 St Stephen's CofE First School Redditch Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2024
43 Avonbourne Boys' Academy Bournemouth Secondary 75 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Nov 2023
44 Darley Dene Primary School Addlestone Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jul 2024
45 de Vere Primary School Halstead Primary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jul 2023
46 Marnel Junior School Basingstoke Primary 75 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Jan 2024
47 Rye Hills Academy Redcar Secondary 75 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2024
48 Norham High School North Shields Secondary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2022 ageing
49 Great Yarmouth Primary Academy and Nursery Great Yarmouth Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2021 ageing
50 Lift Four Dwellings Primary Birmingham Primary 74 Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2023
51 Alice Ingham Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Rochdale Primary 74 Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2024
52 Braintcroft E-ACT Primary Academy London Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2022
53 Morland Church of England Primary School Ipswich Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2022
54 Ark Acton Academy London Secondary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2023
55 Calverley Parkside Primary School Pudsey Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Dec 2022
56 Harris Academy Ockendon South Ockendon Secondary 74 Inadequate → Outstanding Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Outstanding Feb 2024
57 St Paul's Community Primary and Nursery School, Spalding Spalding Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2024
58 Hateley Heath Academy West Bromwich Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2024
59 Fosse Mead Primary Academy Leicester Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jul 2024
60 Othery Village School Bridgwater Primary 74 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2024
61 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Sheffield Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2021 ageing
62 Chesterton Primary School Newcastle-Under-Lyme Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2021 ageing
63 St George's CofE School Kidderminster Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2024
64 Coaley Church of England Primary Academy Dursley Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2022 ageing
65 Birchfield Primary School Birmingham Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2022
66 Edenbridge Primary School Edenbridge Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Oct 2022
67 Roxton Church of England Academy Bedford Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Apr 2023
68 Cape Cornwall School Penzance Secondary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2023
69 Swaffham Prior Church of England Primary School Cambridge Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2022
70 Tameside Primary Academy Wednesbury Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2023
71 Newtown Primary School West Bromwich Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jul 2024
72 Kinson Academy Bournemouth Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2022 ageing
73 Morecambe Bay Academy Morecambe Secondary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2023
74 AIM Academy North London London Secondary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Dec 2023
75 St Matthias Church of England Primary School Malvern Link Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2024
76 The Orchards School Bromsgrove Primary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2024
77 Ashby School Ashby-De-La-Zouch Secondary 73 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2024
78 Kibworth Mead Academy Leicester Secondary 72 Requires Improvement → Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2024
79 Austin Farm Academy Plymouth Primary 72 Requires Improvement → Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jul 2023
80 Ranikhet Academy Reading Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2021 ageing
81 Minehead First School Minehead Primary 72 Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2024
82 Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy Great Yarmouth Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2023
83 Holyhead Primary Academy Wednesbury Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2022 ageing
84 Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery Harlow Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2021 ageing
85 Louth Academy Louth Secondary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2022 ageing
86 Thorpe Primary Academy Peterborough Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Sep 2022
87 St Matthew's CofE Primary School Redhill Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2022
88 New Close Primary School Warminster Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Mar 2022 ageing
89 St John's C of E Academy Coleford Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jan 2022 ageing
90 Wooburn Green Primary School High Wycombe Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2022 ageing
91 Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School Burton-on-Trent Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2022 ageing
92 Sandhills Community Primary School Oxford Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2022
93 Van Gogh Primary London Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2023
94 Priorswood Primary School Taunton Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Nov 2022
95 Marlborough Road Academy Salford Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Jun 2023
96 All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy Thirsk Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Oct 2023
97 Cockburn Haigh Road Academy Leeds Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Dec 2023
98 Avanti Gardens School Bristol Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2024
99 St Paul's CofE Primary School Salford Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good May 2024
100 Osborne Primary School Birmingham Primary 72 Inadequate → Good Ofsted improving Climbed out of Inadequate Attendance improving Good Feb 2024

Methodology & sources

Methodology. Trajectory score combines four signals: Ofsted rating trend (±30 pts), big rating jumps such as Inadequate → Good (±25 pts), absence trend (±15 pts) and absence change magnitude (±15 pts). A small bonus is added for currently Outstanding schools. Schools with a score ≥ 25 are considered. Top 100 shown. The Last inspected column shows when each school's current Ofsted judgement was made — judgements over four years old are flagged as ageing, as they may pre-date significant change. Source: Ofsted current and historical inspection records as of June 2026; absence data from DfE 2024–25. Schools with no Ofsted history (e.g. recent academy conversions) are excluded.