Ages 
Proof that large schools can do an excellent job of making sure no child slips through the net – academically, pastorally and in terms of finding out what floats their boat outside the classroom. But be prepared to pay sky-high house prices to live in catchment.
Why read our school review?
Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
Unlock to access
Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 2,018 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 307 ·
- Local authority
- Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Headteacher
Principal
Mrs Claire Smith
Since 2018, Claire Smith who joined the school in 2011, progressing from director of sport to college leader to associate principal. ‘I can’t say I was wildly ambitious, just very well supported,’ she says unaffectedly, although she believes it’s no
Entrance
Hot competition for each of the 280 year 7 places. Preference to looked-after children, then those attending St James (one of the four primary schools in the Academy), then those attending Hockley Heath (another of the Academy primary schools
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Around half leave after GCSEs, usually for Solihull Sixth Form College (lower entry requirements) or Solihull College (more vocational). About 80 per cent to university. Nottingham Trent currently top of the pops, then Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2024, 92 per cent 9-4 in both maths and English at GCSE; 66 per cent A*-B at A level.
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Unashamedly academic but chasing grades is not the holy grail, with a focus on wellbeing and life outside the classroom equally prized – the idea being that a happy, fulfilled child learns better and is more prepared for life beyond school. Parents
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Impressive. The full-time SEN specialist (strategic lead) sits on the SLT, getting a say over policies relating to eg discipline and pastoral care. Meanwhile, the full-time SENCo (operational lead) is supported by a team of learning mentors whom we
Arts & extracurricular
Everyone – and yes, that includes the cool kids – takes full advantage of the multiple and ever-changing after-school clubs that include chess, Warhammer, jewellery making, F1 and Dungeons and Dragons. Lots of sports and dance opportunities before
Sport
Football, netball and dance are the staples, although students say the breadth is better than it was, eg rugby, rounders and athletics now on curriculum, along with extracurricular opportunities in eg trampolining, basketball, table tennis, lacrosse
Ethos & heritage
The school was founded as a boys’ grammar in 1956, and the head recently stumbled across the script for the first assembly in the school archives. ‘I used it to show how similar the messages are in our assemblies today,’ she told us – ‘being
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Vertical tutor system and six ‘colleges’ (aka houses, recently renamed so they ‘don’t just reflect dead white men’) are at the heart of pastoral care, encouraging cross-year friendships and good relationships with staff. School also has two Thrive
Pupils & parents
Students are sparky, courteous and proud of their school. Most live close enough to walk, some get the bus. Parents generally middle class, dual income and invested in education – lots of business owners and professionals, many of whom came here
The last word
Proof that large schools can do an excellent job of making sure no child slips through the net – academically, pastorally and in terms of finding out what floats their boat outside the classroom. But be prepared to pay sky-high house prices to live
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection: Outstanding
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|
