Voluntary aided school · Birmingham

St John Wall Catholic School

11–16Ages
591Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
103534URN

Oxhill Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 8HH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.3per place

0.9 below Birmingham median (4.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in BirminghamSelective

398 applications for 120 places · 67th of 83 in Birmingham

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

50.2of 90

Birmingham 45.3 England 46.0

25th of 88 in Birmingham

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 20 June 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.3applications per place, Year 7

0.9 below Birmingham median (4.2) 1.1 above England median (2.2)

398 applications · 120 places offered · 82 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.3; Birmingham median median 4.2
2025 4.2; Birmingham median median 4.3
2024 3.3; Birmingham median median 4.0
2023 3.1; Birmingham median median 4.1
2022 3.4; Birmingham median median 4.5
2021 3.2; Birmingham median median 4.3
2020 3.4; Birmingham median median 4.8
2019 3.4; Birmingham median median 4.8
2018 3.5; Birmingham median median 4.6
2017 3.3; Birmingham median median 4.5
2016 2.8; Birmingham median median 3.8
2015 2.9; Birmingham median median 3.6
2014 2.7; Birmingham median median 3.5

More applications per place than the Birmingham median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Birmingham median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	120	398	3.3	82	0.68
Sep 2025	96	401	4.2	71	0.74
Sep 2024	124	404	3.3	75	0.60
Sep 2023	136	425	3.1	85	0.63
Sep 2022	119	401	3.4	78	0.66
Sep 2021	134	426	3.2	69	0.51
Sep 2020	133	455	3.4	64	0.48
Sep 2019	138	475	3.4	73	0.53
Sep 2018	118	409	3.5	57	0.48
Sep 2017	120	390	3.3	60	0.50
Sep 2016	116	330	2.8	66	0.57
Sep 2015	108	311	2.9	56	0.52
Sep 2014	120	320	2.7	72	0.60

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

119 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)50.225th of 88 in Birmingham

Birmingham 45.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths51%33rd of 88 in Birmingham

Birmingham 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths64%

Birmingham 65% England 66%

This school
Birmingham median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.82

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	119	50.2	51%	64%	–
2024/25	127	44.7	39%	61%	–
2023/24	126	48.5	42%	63%	+0.82
2022/23	121	49.4	41%	65%	+0.92

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St John Wall Catholic SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

3.3applications per place 50.2Attainment 8
Holyhead School
1.2 km · Birmingham

Standards maintained2025

3.4applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
Sandwell Academy
1.4 km · Sandwell

Good2024

5.7applications per place 49.0Attainment 8
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy
1.5 km · Birmingham

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.3applications per place 46.4Attainment 8
Hamstead Hall Academy
1.7 km · Birmingham

Good2024

4.1applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
1.8 km · Birmingham

Good2024

7.5applications per place 71.3Attainment 8 Selective
Windsor Olympus Academy
2.1 km · Sandwell

Not yet inspected

1.7applications per place
King Edward VI Handsworth School
2.4 km · Birmingham

Graded · no overall grade2024

6.0applications per place 76.2Attainment 8 Selective
Shireland CBSO Academy
3.0 km · Sandwell

Not yet inspected

2.9applications per place

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 103534 · 330/4625
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 600 pupils · 591 on roll
Free school meals: 65.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Oxhill Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 8HH
Local authority: Birmingham

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources