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Foundation school · Sandwell

Holly Lodge High School College of Science

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,636Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 104018URN

Holly Lane, Smethwick, B67 7JG · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected May 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.5per place
0.9 below Sandwell median (2.4)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Sandwell

350 applications for 241 places · 22nd of 22 in Sandwell
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
38.5of 90
19th of 20 in Sandwell
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 19 May 2026Published 16 September 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 19 May 2026
    Report card · 3 Strong standard, 4 Expected standard
  2. 3 March 2022
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

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
1.5applications per place, Year 7
0.9 below Sandwell median (2.4) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

350 applications · 241 places offered · 143 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

  1. 2026 1.5; Sandwell median median 2.4
  2. 2025 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.0
  3. 2024 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.0
  4. 2023 1.3; Sandwell median median 1.8
  5. 2022 1.4; Sandwell median median 1.9
  6. 2021 1.6; Sandwell median median 2.1
  7. 2020 1.5; Sandwell median median 2.1
  8. 2019 1.3; Sandwell median median 1.9
  9. 2018 1.5; Sandwell median median 2.0
  10. 2017 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.2
  11. 2016 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.0
  12. 2015 1.3; Sandwell median median 1.9
  13. 2014 1.2; Sandwell median median 1.8
More applications per place than the Sandwell median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Sandwell 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262413501.51430.59
Sep 20252403421.41240.52
Sep 20242533491.41300.51
Sep 20232563331.31370.54
Sep 20222583481.41330.52
Sep 20212493861.61360.55
Sep 20202653921.51180.45
Sep 20192983781.31520.51
Sep 20182794251.51750.63
Sep 20172773921.41280.46
Sep 20162743701.41420.52
Sep 20152503171.31270.51
Sep 20142923631.21300.45

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

276 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.519th of 20 in Sandwell
Grade 5 or above in English and maths29%16th of 20 in Sandwell
Grade 4 or above in English and maths51%
  • This school
  • Sandwell median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.10
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)27638.529%51%–
2024/2527742.135%54%–
2023/2428839.927%52%−0.10
2022/2327541.232%51%+0.19

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

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Foundation school
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
104018 · 333/4138
Trust
The Smethwick Health and Wellbeing Education Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,650 pupils · 1,636 on roll
Free school meals
46.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address
Holly Lane, Smethwick, B67 7JG
Local authority
Sandwell

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