Academy sponsor led · Sandwell

Ormiston Forge Academy

11–18Ages
1,643Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137673URN

Wrights Lane, Cradley Heath, B64 6QU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodMar 2016

Standards maintainedUngraded inspection · Apr 2025

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.8 below Sandwell median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Sandwell

419 applications for 265 places · 20th of 22 in Sandwell

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

40.1of 90

Sandwell 41.4 England 46.0

15th of 20 in Sandwell

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodMar 2016

Standards maintainedUngraded inspection · Apr 2025

Inspection history

30 April 2025
Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
22 March 2016
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

1.6applications per place, Year 7

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

419 applications · 265 places offered · 218 named it first

2026 1.6; Sandwell median median 2.4
2025 1.5; Sandwell median median 2.0
2024 1.6; Sandwell median median 2.0
2023 1.4; Sandwell median median 1.8
2022 1.4; Sandwell median median 1.9
2021 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.1
2020 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.1
2019 1.5; Sandwell median median 1.9
2018 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.0
2017 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.2
2016 1.4; Sandwell median median 2.0
2015 1.4; Sandwell median median 1.9
2014 1.3; 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	265	419	1.6	218	0.82
Sep 2025	283	429	1.5	250	0.88
Sep 2024	304	480	1.6	287	0.94
Sep 2023	303	418	1.4	276	0.91
Sep 2022	301	411	1.4	289	0.96
Sep 2021	299	421	1.4	268	0.90
Sep 2020	316	433	1.4	296	0.94
Sep 2019	305	456	1.5	294	0.96
Sep 2018	271	369	1.4	245	0.90
Sep 2017	247	343	1.4	230	0.93
Sep 2016	182	259	1.4	170	0.93
Sep 2015	186	255	1.4	161	0.87
Sep 2014	198	252	1.3	174	0.88

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

283 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)40.115th of 20 in Sandwell

Sandwell 41.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths29%16th of 20 in Sandwell

Sandwell 36% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths54%

Sandwell 54% England 66%

This school
Sandwell median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.32

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	283	40.1	29%	54%	–
2024/25	294	39.7	31%	56%	–
2023/24	297	40.0	31%	52%	−0.32
2022/23	285	40.7	30%	54%	−0.15

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

Ormiston Forge AcademyThis school
This school

Standards maintained2025

1.6applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
St Michael's Church of England High School
1.3 km · Sandwell

Remains Good2023

2.4applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
The Link Academy
2.5 km · Dudley

2026

1.8applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
The Earls High School
2.8 km · Dudley

Standards maintained2025

3.5applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
Windsor High School and Sixth Form
2.8 km · Dudley

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
Leasowes High School
3.1 km · Dudley

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.2applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
Oldbury Academy
3.6 km · Sandwell

2026

2.8applications per place 39.5Attainment 8
Perryfields Academy
3.7 km · Sandwell

Remains Good · concerns noted2024

2.4applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Thorns Collegiate Academy
3.8 km · Dudley

Requires improvement2024

1.8applications per place 37.6Attainment 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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137673 · 333/4000
Trust: Ormiston Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,950 pupils · 1,643 on roll
Free school meals: 43.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 2012
Replaced: The Heathfield Foundation Technology College (URN 104022); Britannia High School (URN 104015)
Address: Wrights Lane, Cradley Heath, B64 6QU
Local authority: Sandwell

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