Holly Lodge High School College of Science
100%
Capacity
1,643
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Holly Lodge High School College of Science
Holly Lodge High School College of Science is a large secondary in Sandwell, running very close to its capacity of 1,650 with 1,643 pupils on roll. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 42.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 342 applications for 240 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.43. Of those, 124 were first-preference applications, and 124 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put it first got a place. The school is non-denominational and mixed, with a sixth form attached. Headteacher Imran Iqbal leads a school that has held a Good Ofsted rating since its 2013 graded inspection, confirmed in an ungraded visit in 2022. That’s a solid track record of stability, especially given the previous inspection in 2010 rated the school Requires Improvement.
Academically, Holly Lodge sits in the middle of the pack. Its Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.1, which is statistically in line with the national average and slightly better than the Sandwell LA average of -0.14. Within the local authority, it ranks 9th out of 19 schools on this measure, placing it in the 47th percentile nationally. Attainment 8 came in at 39.9, and 52.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 8%, and only 3.5% of pupils entered the full EBacc. At A-level, the picture is stronger: the school’s value added score of 0.48 is rated well above average, with a best three A-level grade of B- and an average points per entry of 32.55 (equivalent to a C+). The sixth form is small, with 75 pupils in the data, but it’s clearly an area of strength.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a theatre, astro turf, sports hall, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. There’s a wide range of clubs and sports on offer, from rowing and martial arts to Model UN and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families weighing up options, Holly Lodge is a solid, well-subscribed local comprehensive with a strong sixth form and a stable Good rating. It’s not the highest-performing school in Sandwell — Bristnall Hall Academy, 1.6 km away, is rated Outstanding — but it offers a broad curriculum and good facilities, and its oversubscription figures suggest it’s a popular choice among local families.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Holly Lane, Smethwick, Sandwell, B67 7JG |
| Headteacher | Imran Iqbal |
| Local Authority | Sandwell |
| Number of Pupils | 1,643 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 42.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,643 / 1,650 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (3 Mar 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 13 Jun 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.10)
1782nd of 3,141
Nationally
179th of 371
In West Midlands
9th of 19
In Sandwell
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.2
'22/23
31.2
'23/24
32.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2331%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 277 pupils).
- FE college57%
- School sixth form (stay)31%
- Not sustained4%
- Sixth form college2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2383%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 72 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
5%
Russell Group
5%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)83%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology30
- Business Studies:Single17
- Biology12
- Psychology11
- Mathematics10
- Chemistry9
- Geography8
- English Literature7
- Religious Studies6
- Computer Studies / Computing5
- Physics5
- Art and Design4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
21Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed240
342
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
124 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:10
Source: holly-lodge.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian64.2%
- Mixed6.2%
- White (other)3.8%
- White British3.1%
- Black1.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Holly Lodge High School College of Science
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Holly Lane, Smethwick
Sandwell, B67 7JG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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