E-ACT Nechells Academy

About E-ACT Nechells Academy

E-ACT Nechells Academy’s headline KS2 results sit well below the Birmingham local authority average, which is a significant point for parents to weigh up. In the 2023/24 academic year, just 20% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a LA average of 63%. That places the school 253rd out of 254 primary schools in Birmingham, putting it in the bottom 1% locally. The school’s individual subject scores also lag behind: 50% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, 43% in reading and 37% in writing. No pupils achieved the higher standard in maths or writing, and only 10% did so in reading. These figures reflect a school serving a community with very high levels of disadvantage — 69.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average — and the context is important when interpreting the raw results.

Academics aside, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding. That’s a notable turnaround from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Inadequate across the board. The inspection report highlights strong leadership and management, good quality of education, good early years provision and good personal development. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds, but the improvement in Ofsted grades suggests positive momentum. For a school with this intake profile, the focus is clearly on creating a stable, supportive environment rather than chasing top-tier academic outcomes — and the Outstanding behaviour rating indicates that pupils are engaged and well-disciplined.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms and a chapel, plus sports from football to swimming and clubs like coding, gardening and book club. Its SEND provisions cover seven areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs and social, emotional and mental health support — useful for families whose children need extra help. There is also a nursery on site. Admissions are oversubscribed: for 2025/26, there were 35 applications for 15 places, with 13 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.33. This suggests that despite the low headline results, the school is valued by local families. It will suit parents who prioritise a nurturing, inclusive atmosphere and strong behaviour standards over high academic rankings, particularly those with children who have SEND needs or who would benefit from the forest school and sensory facilities.

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