Bishop Walsh Catholic School

About Bishop Walsh Catholic School

Parents considering Bishop Walsh Catholic School will find strong signals of satisfaction from those already there. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 82% of the 105 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That's a solid vote of confidence. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 170 places in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 1,221 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 7.18. Of those, 176 put it as their first preference, and 148 first-preference offers were made. On individual survey questions, the picture is positive too — 98% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 91% felt their child is safe. The school's Roman Catholic character is central to its identity, and it operates as a state secondary for mixed-gender pupils aged 11 to 18 in Birmingham.

Academically, Bishop Walsh performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.41 is rated 'Above average' and compares favourably with the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09. That places the school 22nd out of 83 secondary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 25% locally. Nationally, it ranks 628th out of 3,141 schools, which is in the top 20% overall. At GCSE, 86.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score was 54.9. The EBacc average point score was 4.55, though only 15.3% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score is -0.12, which is rated 'Average', and the average points per entry was 31.66, equivalent to a grade C. The most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards are maintained, with a Good rating overall and Good marks for leadership, behaviour, and sixth-form provision.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, science labs, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are plenty of extracurricular options, from Model UN and debate to gardening, eco club, and a full sports programme covering netball, football, gymnastics, and martial arts. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for ten different categories including dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. However, the Parent View data on SEND support is more mixed: while 52% strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, 22% disagreed and 4% strongly disagreed. Given the high oversubscription ratio, families applying here need to be prepared for strong competition, particularly for first-preference places. This school will suit families who value a Catholic ethos, strong academic progress, and a broad range of activities, but who are also realistic about the admissions challenge.

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