Cockshut Hill School

About Cockshut Hill School

Cockshut Hill School is a mixed secondary in Birmingham that currently educates 954 pupils against a capacity of 1,580, meaning it is operating well below its potential intake. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals stands at 59.7%, significantly higher than the national average and a clear indicator of the community it serves. Despite this spare capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 656 applications for 210 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.12. Only 114 of those applicants named it as their first preference, and all 114 were offered a place, suggesting that while demand is strong, many families are listing it lower down their choices. The school does not have a sixth form or nursery provision, so its focus is squarely on the 11–16 age range.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. Leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and quality of education were all judged Good, while personal development was rated Outstanding. However, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.54 is well below average, ranking it 76th out of 83 schools in Birmingham and in the bottom 50 nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 38.3 is modest, and only 22.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score of 3.47 and the 7.2% achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above reflect a curriculum that is broad but not yet delivering strong outcomes. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 is 0.09, so Cockshut Hill is significantly behind its Birmingham peers.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, library, gymnasium, science labs, and playing fields, alongside clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Eco Club. Its SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language challenges, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 656 applications for 210 places, families should be aware that securing a place is competitive, though first-preference applicants have a strong chance. This school will suit families who value a supportive environment with strong pastoral care and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are realistic about the academic outcomes being below the local average. The absence of a sixth form means pupils will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere.

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