Academy converter · Birmingham

Holyhead School

11–18Ages
1,257Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137034URN

Milestone Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 0HN · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodFeb 2020

Standards maintainedUngraded inspection · May 2025

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.4per place

0.8 below Birmingham median (4.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in BirminghamSelective

711 applications for 209 places · 63rd of 83 in Birmingham

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.6of 90

Birmingham 45.3 England 46.0

55th of 88 in Birmingham

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodFeb 2020

Standards maintainedUngraded inspection · May 2025

The graded inspection, 4 February 2020Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Inspection history

21 May 2025
Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
4 February 2020
Graded inspection: 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

3.4applications per place, Year 7

0.8 below Birmingham median (4.2) 1.2 above England median (2.2)

711 applications · 209 places offered · 205 named it first

2026 3.4; Birmingham median median 4.2
2025 3.5; Birmingham median median 4.3
2024 3.5; Birmingham median median 4.0
2023 3.8; Birmingham median median 4.1
2022 3.7; Birmingham median median 4.5
2021 3.8; Birmingham median median 4.3
2020 4.6; Birmingham median median 4.8
2019 4.9; Birmingham median median 4.8
2018 4.7; Birmingham median median 4.6
2017 4.6; Birmingham median median 4.5
2016 3.8; Birmingham median median 3.8
2015 3.3; Birmingham median median 3.6
2014 3.4; Birmingham median median 3.5

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	209	711	3.4	205	0.98
Sep 2025	211	741	3.5	193	0.91
Sep 2024	209	734	3.5	182	0.87
Sep 2023	209	796	3.8	222	1.06
Sep 2022	208	767	3.7	213	1.02
Sep 2021	210	790	3.8	220	1.05
Sep 2020	209	954	4.6	257	1.23
Sep 2019	207	1,009	4.9	324	1.57
Sep 2018	205	957	4.7	297	1.45
Sep 2017	210	956	4.6	322	1.53
Sep 2016	209	795	3.8	276	1.32
Sep 2015	210	695	3.3	226	1.08
Sep 2014	210	723	3.4	250	1.19

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

205 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.655th of 88 in Birmingham

Birmingham 45.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths41%56th of 88 in Birmingham

Birmingham 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths63%

Birmingham 65% England 66%

This school
Birmingham median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.04

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	205	43.6	41%	63%	–
2024/25	208	43.2	33%	57%	–
2023/24	206	41.4	39%	61%	−0.04
2022/23	208	40.8	38%	55%	−0.25

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

Holyhead SchoolThis school
This school

Standards maintained2025

3.4applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
Windsor Olympus Academy
0.8 km · Sandwell

Not yet inspected

1.7applications per place
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
0.9 km · Birmingham

Good2024

7.5applications per place 71.3Attainment 8 Selective
St John Wall Catholic School
1.2 km · Birmingham

Good2023

3.3applications per place 50.2Attainment 8
Sandwell Academy
1.5 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
King Edward VI Handsworth School
1.6 km · Birmingham

Graded · no overall grade2024

6.0applications per place 76.2Attainment 8 Selective
Shireland Collegiate Academy
2.6 km · Sandwell

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.9applications per place 45.7Attainment 8
Hamstead Hall Academy
2.8 km · Birmingham

Good2024

4.1applications per place 40.6Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137034 · 330/4241
Trust: Central Region Schools Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,250 pupils · 1,257 on roll
Free school meals: 64.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: Holyhead School (URN 103517)
Address: Milestone Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 0HN
Local authority: Birmingham

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