Classpot

Harborne Academy

Birmingham, B15 3JLSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2022
Progress 8
+0.27
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
115 1st-choice / 145 places
Ranking
#912
of 3,141 nationally

About Harborne Academy

Harborne Academy is a mixed secondary school in Birmingham for pupils aged 11 to 16, and it is genuinely oversubscribed. For its 145 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 847 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 5.84 applicants per place. Only 87 of those offers went to first-preference families, despite 115 first-preference applications being made. The school is running at full capacity with 606 pupils against a stated capacity of 600, so there is no slack in the system. A striking feature of the intake is the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, which stands at 54.3%. That is well above the national average for secondary schools, which typically sits around 25-30%, and suggests the school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage. The headteacher is Sarah Ross, and the school has no sixth form or religious character.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHarborne Road, Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 3JL
HeadteacherSarah Ross
Local AuthorityBirmingham
Number of Pupils606
Free School Meals (FSM)54.3%
School Capacity606 / 600 (101% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

16 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (16 Nov 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 Jul 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Swimming PoolICT SuiteDining HallSports HallTennis CourtsLibraryScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

GymnasticsTennisRoundersSwimmingNetballRowingCross Country

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubNewspaperEco ClubYoung EnterpriseDramaGardeningBook ClubDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:45-08:45

Source: harborneacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Harborne Academy

Harborne Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.