King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls
99%
Capacity
739
Pupils
3.2x
Demand
About King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls
Parents considering King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls will find strong signals of satisfaction from those who know it best. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, a striking 92% of the 75 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That confidence is backed by specific responses: 91% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 90% felt their child does well there. The school is clearly popular locally, too. For entry in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 472 applications for just 148 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.19. Of those 184 families who put it as their first preference, 135 were offered a place, so being first on the list is no guarantee but certainly improves the odds. The school is a girls-only state secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Neil Jones.
Academically, the picture is more mixed. In the 2023/24 results, the school’s Progress 8 score was -0.31, which is below the national average and ranks it 65th out of 83 schools in the Birmingham local authority. For context, the LA average Progress 8 score is 0.09, so the school sits noticeably below that benchmark. Its Attainment 8 score was 42, and the EBacc average point score was 3.8. On the basics measure, 58.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, though that drops to 40.5% when using the more demanding grade 5 threshold. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Requires Improvement, and the 2024 ungraded inspection noted that some aspects were not as strong, but the overall rating held.
The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage: 47.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. It offers a broad range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Facilities include a theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, and a library, and the extracurricular programme is extensive, with clubs ranging from chess and debate to eco club and young enterprise, plus sports such as netball, swimming, and martial arts. For families who value a strong parent community and a school that has clearly turned a corner in leadership, King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls is worth a close look, though the academic results suggest it may be a better fit for families prioritising pastoral care and personal development over top-tier exam performance.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Turves Green, Birmingham, Birmingham, B31 4BP |
| Headteacher | Neil Jones |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 739 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 47.4% |
| School Capacity | 739 / 750 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Nov 2024): Some aspects not as strong
Source: Ofsted, 22 May 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.31)
2267th of 3,141
Nationally
245th of 371
In West Midlands
65th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
Ofsted Parent View
75 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed148
472
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
184 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.8%
- Mixed7.0%
- Asian5.5%
- White (other)2.0%
- Black1.1%
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.
14
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
11
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 Northfield School for Girls
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
Turves Green, Birmingham
Birmingham, B31 4BP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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