The Link Academy
Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 11–16 · Dudley
Last distance offered · Year 7 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council · offers on 2 March 2026
2023–2025 trend 🔒
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
The Link Academy is a secondary school in Dudley for ages 11–16 (academy sponsor led). Dudley has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2023 to 2026 entry.
The Link Academy catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Year 7 2025 | 🔒 With a pass |
| Year 7 2024 | 🔒 With a pass |
| Year 7 2023 | 🔒 With a pass |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- 51.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, against a middle figure of 38.9% across the 8 nearest secondary schools in Dudley.
- Year 7 2026 had 174 first-choice applications for 196 offers; 173 offers went to first-choice families, and 1 first-choice family (1%) was not offered a place.
- In 2024/25, 33% of pupils got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), with an Attainment 8 score of 40.4 (England 46).
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Dudley schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Simms Lane, Netherton, Dudley, DY2 0PB
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–16
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Dudley
- Pupils on roll
- 1,013 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 51.2% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 16.6
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 19 May 2026
Strengths
- “Pupils flourish at this ambitious and inclusive school.”
- “Teaching is typically effective in supporting pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to learn well.”
- “Generally, they achieve well in public examinations.”
To improve
- “They are taking robust and rapid action to improve the quality of teaching and achievement.”
- “However, at times, this is not done precisely enough to help them adapt their teaching to address learning gaps.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 22 June 2026 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 33% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 40.4 | 46 |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 174 first-preference applications, 196 offers in total, 173 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Dudley.
- Pegasus Academy 1.1 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- St James Academy 1.4 mi Good Last distance published
- Bishop Milner Catholic College 1.9 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Thorns Collegiate Academy 2.1 mi Requires improvement Last distance published
- The Crestwood School 2.7 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- The Wordsley School 2.7 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Ellowes Hall Sports College 2.9 mi Good Last distance published
- Beacon Hill Academy 2.9 mi Good Last distance published