Graded inspection · Oct 2024 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Sandwell
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | Good | |||
| Sixth form provision | 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 entry714 applications · 244 places offered · 332 named it first
- 2026 2.9; Sandwell median median 2.4
- 2025 2.5; Sandwell median median 2.0
- 2024 2.7; Sandwell median median 2.0
- 2023 2.4; Sandwell median median 1.8
- 2022 2.3; Sandwell median median 1.9
- 2021 2.2; Sandwell median median 2.1
- 2020 2.3; Sandwell median median 2.1
- 2019 2.6; Sandwell median median 1.9
- 2018 2.0; Sandwell median median 2.0
- 2017 2.4; Sandwell median median 2.2
- 2016 2.3; Sandwell median median 2.0
- 2015 2.1; Sandwell median median 1.9
- 2014 2.1; Sandwell median median 1.8
- 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.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 244 | 714 | 2.9 | 332 | 1.36 |
| Sep 2025 | 248 | 619 | 2.5 | 301 | 1.21 |
| Sep 2024 | 242 | 658 | 2.7 | 331 | 1.37 |
| Sep 2023 | 248 | 595 | 2.4 | 304 | 1.23 |
| Sep 2022 | 246 | 566 | 2.3 | 260 | 1.06 |
| Sep 2021 | 274 | 607 | 2.2 | 286 | 1.04 |
| Sep 2020 | 270 | 624 | 2.3 | 268 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2019 | 249 | 634 | 2.6 | 287 | 1.15 |
| Sep 2018 | 249 | 499 | 2.0 | 238 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2017 | 191 | 464 | 2.4 | 220 | 1.15 |
| Sep 2016 | 192 | 448 | 2.3 | 217 | 1.13 |
| Sep 2015 | 194 | 408 | 2.1 | 188 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2014 | 189 | 403 | 2.1 | 170 | 0.90 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 267 | 45.7 | 42% | 65% | – |
| 2024/25 | 270 | 44.5 | 37% | 60% | – |
| 2023/24 | 240 | 47.6 | 49% | 69% | +0.38 |
| 2022/23 | 245 | 47.0 | 41% | 63% | +0.37 |
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
- Shireland Collegiate AcademyThis schoolThis schoolGraded · no overall grade20242.9applications per place 45.7Attainment 8
- 1.0 km · BirminghamGraded · no overall grade20244.1applications per place 37.3Attainment 8
- 1.4 km · Birmingham20263.4applications per place 45.2Attainment 8
- 1.7 km · BirminghamGood20243.4applications per place 53.6Attainment 8
- 1.9 km · BirminghamRemains Outstanding20234.7applications per place 65.9Attainment 8
- 2.0 km · SandwellOutstanding20234.4applications per place 51.6Attainment 8
- 2.2 km · SandwellNot yet inspected1.7applications per place
- 2.2 km · Sandwell20261.5applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
- 2.5 km · SandwellImproved significantly20243.1applications per place 50.4Attainment 8
- 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
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 135170 · 333/6906
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,191 pupils · 1,585 on roll
- Free school meals
- 44.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2007
- Replaced
- Shireland Language College (URN 104013)
- Address
- Waterloo Road, Smethwick, B66 4ND
- Local authority
- Sandwell
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources