Academy converter · Walsall

Shire Oak Academy

11–18Ages
1,149Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136620URN

Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, Walsall, WS9 9PA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Graded inspection · Jan 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.8 below Walsall median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in WalsallSelective

206 applications for 128 places · 14th of 18 in Walsall

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

37.0of 90

Walsall 41.0 England 46.0

14th of 19 in Walsall

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Graded inspection · 21 January 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education			Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes			Inadequate
Personal development		Requires improvement
Leadership and management			Inadequate
Sixth form provision	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

1.6applications per place, Year 7

0.8 below Walsall median (2.4) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

206 applications · 128 places offered · 67 named it first

2026 1.6; Walsall median median 2.4
2025 1.1; Walsall median median 2.6
2024 1.1; Walsall median median 2.5
2023 1.3; Walsall median median 2.2
2022 1.8; Walsall median median 2.2
2021 1.8; Walsall median median 2.2
2020 2.1; Walsall median median 2.5
2019 2.0; Walsall median median 2.5
2018 2.5; Walsall median median 2.3
2017 2.4; Walsall median median 2.4
2016 2.3; Walsall median median 2.1
2015 2.1; Walsall median median 2.1
2014 2.2; Walsall median median 2.2

This school
Walsall 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	128	206	1.6	67	0.52
Sep 2025	218	241	1.1	96	0.44
Sep 2024	293	311	1.1	119	0.41
Sep 2023	290	367	1.3	139	0.48
Sep 2022	277	496	1.8	215	0.78
Sep 2021	259	464	1.8	210	0.81
Sep 2020	236	483	2.1	205	0.87
Sep 2019	234	456	2.0	175	0.75
Sep 2018	234	575	2.5	229	0.98
Sep 2017	235	574	2.4	265	1.13
Sep 2016	235	550	2.3	247	1.05
Sep 2015	236	493	2.1	229	0.97
Sep 2014	238	514	2.2	224	0.94

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

229 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.014th of 19 in Walsall

Walsall 41.0 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%13th of 19 in Walsall

Walsall 34% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths48%

Walsall 54% England 66%

This school
Walsall median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.01

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	229	37.0	28%	48%	–
2024/25	244	35.0	26%	42%	–
2023/24	234	35.3	26%	47%	−1.01
2022/23	241	38.7	35%	52%	−0.81

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

Shire Oak AcademyThis school
This school

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 37.0Attainment 8
Brownhills Ormiston Academy
2.3 km · Walsall

Some aspects not as strong2024

2.5applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy
2.3 km · Walsall

Good2023

2.4applications per place 39.6Attainment 8
Erasmus Darwin Academy
3.8 km · Staffordshire

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
St Francis of Assisi Catholic College
4.1 km · Walsall

2026

3.8applications per place 53.0Attainment 8
Aldridge School - A Science College
4.1 km · Walsall

Remains Good2022

3.1applications per place 43.4Attainment 8
Walsall Academy
5.4 km · Walsall

2026

3.6applications per place 43.5Attainment 8
Chase Terrace Academy
5.4 km · Staffordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
Norton Canes High School
5.8 km · Staffordshire

Requires improvement2024

1.7applications per place 43.5Attainment 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 converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136620 · 335/5402
Trust: The Mercian Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,491 pupils · 1,149 on roll
Free school meals: 44.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 April 2011
Replaced: Shire Oak School (A Science College) (URN 104260)
Address: Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, Walsall, WS9 9PA
Local authority: Walsall

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