Catshill Middle School

About Catshill Middle School

Catshill Middle School is a state secondary for pupils aged 9 to 13 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, and it currently has 424 pupils on roll against a capacity of 450, meaning it is operating very close to full but with a small number of spare places. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.2%, which is notably higher than the national average for state-funded schools and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Despite this, demand appears manageable; the school is not oversubscribed to the point of needing to turn away families, and its middle-school model (catering for Years 5 through 8) makes it a distinct option in the local area. The school is mixed, non-religious, and led by headteacher Julia Shingler. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2022, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good — a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Academically, the school’s performance data is limited because it does not have a sixth form and its pupils sit Key Stage 2 SATs at age 11, then move on before GCSEs. The most recent Ofsted report, an ungraded inspection in November 2022, confirmed the school remains Good, and the graded inspection in 2016 also awarded Good for overall effectiveness, leadership, and management. Without Progress 8 or Attainment 8 scores (which apply to schools with GCSE cohorts), it is harder to benchmark against the local authority average of -0.21 for Progress 8, but the school’s Good rating places it in the majority of Worcestershire schools — only six of the 47 secondary-type schools in the LA are rated Outstanding. The nearest Outstanding-rated middle school is Aston Fields Middle School, 3.9 km away, which may be a consideration for families prioritising top grades.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, playing fields, art studios, music rooms, and even a chapel, which is unusual for a non-religious state school. Sports on offer include cricket, rugby, martial arts, gymnastics, rowing, and cross country, while clubs cover drama, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, eco club, gardening, and science club. For SEND, the school supports pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder — a broad and inclusive offer. This is a school that suits families looking for a middle-school option in Bromsgrove, particularly those who value a wide extracurricular programme and strong SEND support, and who are comfortable with a school that is good but not outstanding, and that serves a relatively disadvantaged intake.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Catshill Middle School

Helpful Guides for Parents