Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School
97%
Capacity
1,158
Pupils
3.5x
Demand
About Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School
Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School is a popular choice among Birmingham families, with 728 applications for 210 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.47. Of those, 178 first-preference offers were made from 198 first-preference applications, indicating strong local demand. The school is a mixed, state secondary for ages 11 to 18 with a Roman Catholic character, led by headteacher Ciaran Clinton. It currently has 1,158 pupils on roll, just shy of its 1,190 capacity. Nearly half of its students (47.9%) are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school retained its overall Good rating, though inspectors noted concerns and the sixth form provision was graded as Requires Improvement. The leadership and management, as well as the overall effectiveness, remain Good, matching the rating from the previous graded inspection in 2018.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.13, which is below the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09 and places it 60th out of 83 schools in the area. This score is within the national 'Average' band, with a confidence interval ranging from -0.33 to 0.07. The Attainment 8 score stands at 44.7, and 60.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 36.2% reached grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.75, with 30.9% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.21, placing it in the 'Below average' band, with an average points per entry of 26.23 (equivalent to a C- grade). Only 2.8% of entries achieved AAB or higher, and the best three A-levels averaged 27.22 points.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a chapel, sixth form centre, sports hall, astro turf, music rooms, and science labs. Sports on offer include hockey, swimming, tennis, and martial arts, while extracurricular clubs range from Model UN and Debate to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise. The school has a broad SEND provision, covering areas such as dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families considering this school, the data suggests it is a faith-based, inclusive community that is heavily oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is essential. It suits families who value a Catholic ethos and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to compare with higher-performing local options like Eden Boys' School or St Paul's School for Girls.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Victoria Road, Birmingham, Birmingham, B27 7XY |
| Headteacher | Ciaran Clinton |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,158 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 47.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,158 / 1,190 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 Oct 2023): School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Jul 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.13)
1850th of 3,141
Nationally
190th of 371
In West Midlands
60th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
34.5
'22/23
26.5
'23/24
26.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2370%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 53 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
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)70%
- Employment17%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained4%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed210
728
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
198 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British40.2%
- Asian22.2%
- Mixed12.8%
- White (other)9.9%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
11
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 Archbishop Ilsley Catholic 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
Victoria Road, Birmingham
Birmingham, B27 7XY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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