Alderbrook School
101%
Capacity
1,667
Pupils
5.2x
Demand
About Alderbrook School
Alderbrook School is a popular choice among Solihull families, and the numbers back that up. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 1,378 applications for just 267 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 5.16. That means more than five families applied for every available spot, and of the 320 who put it as their first preference, 223 were offered a place. While the data doesn't include a direct parent recommendation percentage, this level of demand is a strong signal of the school's standing in the local community. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, and it currently educates 1,667 pupils, slightly above its official capacity of 1,650. Headteacher Thomas Beveridge leads a school that Ofsted judged to be Good in its most recent graded inspection in 2018, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good.
Academically, Alderbrook performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.45 is significantly higher than the Solihull local authority average of -0.12, placing the school 4th out of 15 similar schools in the borough and in the top 25% nationally. Pupils make particularly strong progress in maths, with a Progress 8 score of 0.6, and in English at 0.44. At GCSE, 80.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 53.9. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly strong: students achieved an average of 40.11 points per entry, equivalent to a B grade, and the school’s value-added score of 0.29 is rated as above average. Just over a quarter of sixth formers (24.5%) achieved at least two A grades and a B grade in their A-levels.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers football, rugby, cricket, netball, and gymnastics, while extracurricular options include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and a range of clubs from film to gardening. Alderbrook has a dedicated SEN unit and supports pupils with a wide array of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With 19.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Given its strong academic outcomes and high demand, Alderbrook is a good fit for families who want a well-performing state secondary with a thriving sixth form, but they should be prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Blossomfield Road, Solihull, Solihull, B91 1SN |
| Headteacher | Thomas Beveridge |
| Local Authority | Solihull |
| Number of Pupils | 1,667 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,667 / 1,650 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 May 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.45)
569th of 3,141
Nationally
53rd of 371
In West Midlands
4th of 15
In Solihull
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.2
'22/23
38.5
'23/24
40.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2332%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 261 pupils).
- FE college34%
- School sixth form (stay)32%
- Sixth form college22%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship1%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2380%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 94 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
34%
Russell Group
38%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)80%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics51
- Chemistry39
- Biology36
- Psychology22
- Physics18
- Government and Politics17
- Economics16
- English Language15
- English Literature15
- Business Studies:Single13
- Geography12
- Art and Design (Fine Art)10
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed267
1,378
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
320 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British57.8%
- Asian29.3%
- Mixed7.3%
- White (other)2.8%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alderbrook School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Blossomfield Road, Solihull
Solihull, B91 1SN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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