Classpot

Barr Beacon School

Walsall, WS9 0RFSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2022
Progress 8
+0.19
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
319 1st-choice / 255 places
Ranking
#1,102
of 3,141 nationally

About Barr Beacon School

Barr Beacon School sits within Walsall local authority, a large mixed secondary and sixth form that ranks third out of 18 schools of its type in the borough. That puts it in the top 17% locally, behind only Queen Mary's Grammar School and Queen Mary's High School, both of which are selective grammar schools. For families looking at non-selective state options, Barr Beacon is the highest-ranked comprehensive in the area. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 1,143 applications for 255 places, with 319 families putting it as their first preference. That works out at roughly 4.5 applicants per place, a clear sign of its standing among local parents. The headteacher is Kate Hibbs, and the school has no religious character. It's a large site, with 1,501 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,487, and 21.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressOld Hall Lane, Walsall, Walsall, WS9 0RF
HeadteacherKate Hibbs
Local AuthorityWalsall
Number of Pupils1,501
Free School Meals (FSM)21.9%
School Capacity1,501 / 1,487 (101% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

22 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
TheatreMusic RoomsArt StudiosTennis CourtsPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreSwimming PoolSports HallICT SuiteLibrary

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

DanceNetballFootballGymnasticsCross CountryTennisBasketball

Clubs & Activities

DramaChessBook ClubArt ClubYoung EnterpriseNewspaperCodingChoirFilm ClubOrchestraModel United NationsDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Barr Beacon School

Barr Beacon School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.