King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy
104%
Capacity
1,065
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a change from its previous Outstanding rating. The school's most telling exam metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.43, which places it well above the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09. This score, which measures how much pupils improve between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs compared with the national average, puts the school in the top 25 per cent of schools nationally and ranks it 20th out of 83 secondary schools in Birmingham. The Progress 8 banding is officially classed as 'Above average', and the school's Attainment 8 score sits at 50. In English specifically, the Progress 8 score is a strong 0.79, while in maths it is a more modest 0.04. The school's EBacc average point score is 4.56, and just over half of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects.
At GCSE, 68.8 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though the figure drops to 45 per cent for a grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the school's value added score is -0.14, which is banded as 'Average', and the average points per entry is 29.5, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average grade is also a C, with 5.6 per cent of pupils achieving grades AAB or higher. The school's Ofsted inspection in March 2025 gave Good ratings across all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. Parent feedback from the Ofsted Parent View survey, based on 29 responses, shows 79 per cent would recommend the school, with strong majorities agreeing their child is happy and feels safe.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 545 applications for 176 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.1, with 134 first-preference offers made from 148 first-preference applications. Facilities include a sports hall, swimming pool, astro turf, playing fields, art studios, and a sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports including netball, hockey, gymnastics and swimming, plus clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a choir. SEND provisions cover eight areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 51.2 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, this is a school serving a diverse and disadvantaged community, yet delivering academic progress well above the local average. It will particularly suit families looking for a girls' secondary with a strong sixth form and a proven track record of boosting pupil outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Church Lane, Birmingham, Birmingham, B20 2HL |
| Headteacher | Kiran Takhar |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,065 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 51.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,065 / 1,021 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.43)
601st of 3,141
Nationally
58th of 371
In West Midlands
20th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
28.5
'22/23
21.0
'23/24
29.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 94 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
20%
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)68%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Other education2%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
29 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed176
545
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
148 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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
- Asian65.7%
- Mixed5.4%
- White (other)1.6%
- Black1.5%
- White British0.2%
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.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
21
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
16
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy
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
Church Lane, Birmingham
Birmingham, B20 2HL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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