Classpot

Holyhead School

Birmingham, B21 0HNSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2025
Progress 8
-0.04
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
193 1st-choice / 211 places
Ranking
#1,623
of 3,141 nationally

About Holyhead School

If you're a parent weighing up Holyhead School, the first thing to know is that 87% of parents who responded to the most recent Ofsted Parent View survey would recommend it, which is a strong signal of day-to-day satisfaction. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 741 applications for 211 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.51. Only 184 of those places went to first-preference applicants, out of 193 first-preference applications, so securing a spot is competitive. On the survey, 90% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 94% felt their child is safe. Behaviour gets a thumbs-up too, with 83% agreeing the school ensures pupils are well behaved. The school's most recent graded inspection was in 2020, when it was rated Good across all areas, and an ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressMilestone Lane, Birmingham, Birmingham, B21 0HN
HeadteacherDavid Knox
Local AuthorityBirmingham
Number of Pupils1,271
Free School Meals (FSM)58.8%
School Capacity1,271 / 1,250 (102% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 30 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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
See an example
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 May 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (21 May 2025): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 18 Mar 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Music RoomsLibraryTennis CourtsGymnasiumAstro TurfPlaying FieldsScience LabsDining HallSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

TennisBasketballCricketHockeyRoundersRugbyRowingNetballAthleticsSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubDebateGardeningYoung EnterpriseChessBook ClubOrchestraEco ClubArt ClubDuke of Edinburgh

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Holyhead School

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