Birley Spa Primary Academy

About Birley Spa Primary Academy

Birley Spa Primary Academy sits within the Sheffield local authority, a large and varied primary landscape of 131 state schools. In the most recent local rankings based on Key Stage 2 outcomes, the school placed 100th out of 106, placing it in the bottom half of Sheffield primaries. For context, the top-performing nearby peers include Dobcroft Junior School, Totley Primary School and Angram Bank Primary School, all of which achieved significantly higher ranking scores. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Mosborough Primary School, about 2.8 kilometres away. Birley Spa itself was rated Requires Improvement in its most recent graded inspection in November 2023, though the picture is more mixed than that headline suggests. The school received Good ratings for early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The quality of education was the area identified as requiring improvement, and the school has held a Requires Improvement rating since at least its previous inspection in 2019.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show a significant gap compared with the local authority average. Just 34% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, against a Sheffield average of 57%. Only 3% reached the higher standard across all three subjects. In individual subjects, 44% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, 54% in writing, and 46% in maths. Average scaled scores were 101 in reading and 100 in maths, both just below the national benchmark of 100. The school ranks in the bottom 5% nationally on the combined expected standard metric, and in the bottom 5% within Yorkshire and the Humber. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 43.3%, well above the national average, which may contextualise some of the attainment figures.

Birley Spa is a three-form entry primary with a nursery provision for children aged three and above. It was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 38 applications for 20 places, with 19 first-preference offers made. The school has a broad range of facilities including a library, music rooms, art studios and a dining hall, plus an outdoor playground. Sports offered include athletics, football, rounders and dance, and there is a good selection of clubs such as book club, art club, choir, drama and science club. The school reports a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder, as well as a resourced provision. This suggests the school is well set up to support children with additional needs. For families prioritising a school with strong academic outcomes or an Outstanding Ofsted rating, Birley Spa may not be the first choice, but its Good-rated early years and pastoral care, combined with its SEND capacity, could suit families looking for a supportive local primary with a community feel.

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