Arden
122%
Capacity
1,817
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Arden
Arden is a state secondary school in Solihull that is significantly oversubscribed, and the numbers tell a clear story about demand. With 1,817 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,490, the school is operating well above its official limit. For entry in 2025/26, there were 812 applications for 295 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.75. Of those, 269 families put Arden as their first preference, and 245 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.3%, which is broadly in line with the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking pupils from age 11 through to 18. Headteacher David Warwood leads a school that, on these figures alone, is clearly a popular choice among Solihull families.
Academically, Arden performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.59 is rated 'Well above average' nationally, and compares very favourably with the Solihull local authority average of -0.12. Within the borough, Arden ranks second out of 15 schools on this measure, placing it in the top 13% locally and the top 12% nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 57.7, and 82.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 5.03, with 40.1% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the school's value added score is 0.31, classed as 'Above average', and the average points per entry is 40.26, equivalent to a B grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade too, and 19.9% of entries were graded AAB or higher. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour, personal development, and sixth-form provision, having previously been rated Outstanding in 2008.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sixth-form centre, and Astro Turf pitches, plus a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, cricket, rugby, and martial arts, while extracurricular clubs range from Debate and Chess to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. For families considering Arden, the key takeaway is that it is a high-performing, heavily oversubscribed school where academic results are strong across both GCSE and A-level. The combination of a genuinely mixed intake, strong progress scores, and a wide range of facilities makes it a particularly attractive option for families who want a large, well-resourced school with proven outcomes, but who need to be realistic about the competition for places.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Station Road, Solihull, Solihull, B93 0PT |
| Headteacher | David Warwood |
| Local Authority | Solihull |
| Number of Pupils | 1,817 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,817 / 1,490 (122% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.59)
389th of 3,141
Nationally
31st of 371
In West Midlands
2nd of 15
In Solihull
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
42.6
'22/23
39.4
'23/24
40.3
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
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 293 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college26%
- Sixth form college11%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Not sustained3%
- Employment2%
96% 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
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 156 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
25%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
1%
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)60%
- Employment23%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained6%
- 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- Psychology52
- Mathematics39
- Business Studies:Single34
- Geography33
- Biology31
- Physics22
- Chemistry20
- History20
- Religious Studies16
- Economics15
- Art and Design (Fine Art)14
- Computer Studies / Computing14
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
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed295
812
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
269 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.2%
- Asian15.9%
- Mixed5.5%
- White (other)2.5%
- Black0.2%
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.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Arden
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
Station Road, Solihull
Solihull, B93 0PT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
