What did Ofsted judge Watling Academy's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Watling Academy's overall effectiveness as Outstanding at its inspection in May 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Watling Academy?

Watling Academy has 1,767 pupils on roll.

What ages does Watling Academy take?

Watling Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Watling Academy located?

Watling Academy is located in Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP, Milton Keynes.

How do I apply to Watling Academy?

Watling Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How close do you need to live to get into Watling Academy?

On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Watling Academy was 1.732 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Year 7 places decided at Watling Academy?

When Watling Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Children who are looked after (LAC)* and all previously looked after children (PLAC)** including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (IAPLAC); 2. Children of staff — a. Children of staff who have been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made, and/or b. Children of staff who are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. It is at the absolute discretion of the Headteacher to determine when there is a demonstrable skill shortage; 3. Defined area / partner school combinations — The remaining places (up to the limit of 300) will be allocated in the following priority order: a. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. b. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school. c. Pupils who live within the defined area of the Academy with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. d. Pupils who live in the defined area. e. Pupils who attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. f. Pupils who attend a partner school, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 300 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Distance between the applicant's residence and the Academy will be used as a tiebreaker with those living nearest to the Academy given priority, measured in a straight line using appropriate computer software; where distances are equal, a supervised lottery is used as a final tiebreak for the last available place.

What is the largest ethnic background at Watling Academy?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 37.6% of pupils at Watling Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Watling Academy: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

School AtlasMilton Keynes

Milton Keynes

School AtlasMilton Keynes

Milton Keynes

How close did you need to live?

1.732miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at Watling Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at Watling Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — Children who are looked after (LAC)* and all previously looked after children (PLAC)** including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (IAPLAC).
2Children of staff — a. Children of staff who have been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made, and/or b. Children of staff who are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. It is at the absolute discretion of the Headteacher to determine when there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
3Defined area / partner school combinations — The remaining places (up to the limit of 300) will be allocated in the following priority order: a. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. b. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school. c. Pupils who live within the defined area of the Academy with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. d. Pupils who live in the defined area. e. Pupils who attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. f. Pupils who attend a partner school.
4Sibling at the Academy — Pupils who do not satisfy any of the criteria above in 1-3 but who have a sibling in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application.
5Pupils from another Trust primary school — Pupils who attend another Primary School within The Alliance Schools Trust.
6All other applicants — Other pupils whose parents have made Watling Academy a preferred choice of secondary school.

If two applications tie: Distance between the applicant's residence and the Academy will be used as a tiebreaker with those living nearest to the Academy given priority, measured in a straight line using appropriate computer software; where distances are equal, a supervised lottery is used as a final tiebreak for the last available place.

Children with an EHCP naming Watling Academy are admitted first by law and count towards the PAN (stated but not numbered as a criterion). The document also publishes separate in-year admission arrangements (Years 7-11) with a different criteria order, not included here as they do not constitute a normal point of entry.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Watling Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Watling Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Watling Academy's overall effectiveness as Outstanding at its inspection in May 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Watling Academy?: Watling Academy has 1,767 pupils on roll.
What ages does Watling Academy take?: Watling Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Watling Academy located?: Watling Academy is located in Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP, Milton Keynes.
How do I apply to Watling Academy?: Watling Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into Watling Academy?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Watling Academy was 1.732 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at Watling Academy?: When Watling Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Children who are looked after (LAC)* and all previously looked after children (PLAC)** including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (IAPLAC); 2. Children of staff — a. Children of staff who have been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made, and/or b. Children of staff who are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. It is at the absolute discretion of the Headteacher to determine when there is a demonstrable skill shortage; 3. Defined area / partner school combinations — The remaining places (up to the limit of 300) will be allocated in the following priority order: a. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. b. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school. c. Pupils who live within the defined area of the Academy with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. d. Pupils who live in the defined area. e. Pupils who attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. f. Pupils who attend a partner school, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 300 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Distance between the applicant's residence and the Academy will be used as a tiebreaker with those living nearest to the Academy given priority, measured in a straight line using appropriate computer software; where distances are equal, a supervised lottery is used as a final tiebreak for the last available place.
What is the largest ethnic background at Watling Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 37.6% of pupils at Watling Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How close did you need to live?

1.732miles

Last distance offered at Watling Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at Watling Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — Children who are looked after (LAC)* and all previously looked after children (PLAC)** including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (IAPLAC).
2Children of staff — a. Children of staff who have been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made, and/or b. Children of staff who are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. It is at the absolute discretion of the Headteacher to determine when there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
3Defined area / partner school combinations — The remaining places (up to the limit of 300) will be allocated in the following priority order: a. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. b. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school. c. Pupils who live within the defined area of the Academy with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. d. Pupils who live in the defined area. e. Pupils who attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. f. Pupils who attend a partner school.
4Sibling at the Academy — Pupils who do not satisfy any of the criteria above in 1-3 but who have a sibling in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application.
5Pupils from another Trust primary school — Pupils who attend another Primary School within The Alliance Schools Trust.
6All other applicants — Other pupils whose parents have made Watling Academy a preferred choice of secondary school.

Watling Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Watling Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Watling Academy's overall effectiveness as Outstanding at its inspection in May 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Watling Academy?: Watling Academy has 1,767 pupils on roll.
What ages does Watling Academy take?: Watling Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Watling Academy located?: Watling Academy is located in Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP, Milton Keynes.
How do I apply to Watling Academy?: Watling Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into Watling Academy?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Watling Academy was 1.732 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at Watling Academy?: When Watling Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Children who are looked after (LAC)* and all previously looked after children (PLAC)** including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (IAPLAC); 2. Children of staff — a. Children of staff who have been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made, and/or b. Children of staff who are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. It is at the absolute discretion of the Headteacher to determine when there is a demonstrable skill shortage; 3. Defined area / partner school combinations — The remaining places (up to the limit of 300) will be allocated in the following priority order: a. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. b. Pupils who live in the defined area and attend a partner school. c. Pupils who live within the defined area of the Academy with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. d. Pupils who live in the defined area. e. Pupils who attend a partner school with a sibling in attendance in years 7-12 at the Academy at the time of application. f. Pupils who attend a partner school, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 300 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Distance between the applicant's residence and the Academy will be used as a tiebreaker with those living nearest to the Academy given priority, measured in a straight line using appropriate computer software; where distances are equal, a supervised lottery is used as a final tiebreak for the last available place.
What is the largest ethnic background at Watling Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 37.6% of pupils at Watling Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Watling Academy

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Watling Academy

Watling Academy: key facts

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Watling Academy: key facts

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