Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in WalsallSelective
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 | Outstanding | |||
| 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 entry1,205 applications · 264 places offered · 333 named it first
- 2026 4.6; Walsall median median 2.4
- 2025 4.5; Walsall median median 2.6
- 2024 4.8; Walsall median median 2.5
- 2023 5.0; Walsall median median 2.2
- 2022 4.7; Walsall median median 2.2
- 2021 4.5; Walsall median median 2.2
- 2020 4.6; Walsall median median 2.5
- 2019 5.2; Walsall median median 2.5
- 2018 4.1; Walsall median median 2.3
- 2017 4.5; Walsall median median 2.4
- 2016 4.2; Walsall median median 2.1
- 2015 3.6; Walsall median median 2.1
- 2014 3.3; 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 | 264 | 1,205 | 4.6 | 333 | 1.26 |
| Sep 2025 | 255 | 1,143 | 4.5 | 319 | 1.25 |
| Sep 2024 | 254 | 1,222 | 4.8 | 314 | 1.24 |
| Sep 2023 | 252 | 1,265 | 5.0 | 347 | 1.38 |
| Sep 2022 | 255 | 1,196 | 4.7 | 348 | 1.36 |
| Sep 2021 | 270 | 1,211 | 4.5 | 349 | 1.29 |
| Sep 2020 | 273 | 1,243 | 4.6 | 344 | 1.26 |
| Sep 2019 | 251 | 1,306 | 5.2 | 373 | 1.49 |
| Sep 2018 | 296 | 1,200 | 4.1 | 326 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2017 | 248 | 1,111 | 4.5 | 295 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2016 | 245 | 1,033 | 4.2 | 267 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2015 | 248 | 899 | 3.6 | 252 | 1.02 |
| Sep 2014 | 251 | 839 | 3.3 | 260 | 1.04 |
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.) | 253 | 50.4 | 57% | 78% | – |
| 2024/25 | 261 | 51.0 | 62% | 77% | – |
| 2023/24 | 258 | 50.4 | 61% | 81% | +0.19 |
| 2022/23 | 289 | 52.4 | 60% | 82% | +0.35 |
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
- Barr Beacon SchoolThis schoolThis schoolGood20224.6applications per place 50.4Attainment 8
- 2.0 km · BirminghamGood20234.2applications per place 38.4Attainment 8
- 2.3 km · SandwellRemains Good20222.5applications per place 44.1Attainment 8
- 2.3 km · Birmingham20263.7applications per place 48.0Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · WalsallGood20223.8applications per place 42.9Attainment 8
- 2.5 km · BirminghamGraded · no overall grade20242.9applications per place 42.7Attainment 8
- 3.9 km · WalsallOutstanding20234.5applications per place 72.6Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.0 km · WalsallRemains Good20223.1applications per place 43.4Attainment 8
- 4.0 km · BirminghamGood20244.1applications per place 40.6Attainment 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
- 136885 · 335/5406
- Trust
- Matrix Academy Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,487 pupils · 1,469 on roll
- Free school meals
- 23.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 July 2011
- Replaced
- Barr Beacon Language College (URN 104264)
- Address
- Old Hall Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 0RF
- Local authority
- Walsall
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources