King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy

About King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy

King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, with every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — all landing at the same grade. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.19 is the standout metric here: it means pupils achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than the national average, and it sits comfortably above the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09. That score places the school 34th out of 83 secondaries in Birmingham, and 1097th nationally out of 3141 — solidly in the top half of schools across the country. The Attainment 8 score of 47.3, combined with a 66.3 per cent pass rate at grade 4 or above in English and maths, paints a picture of a school where most pupils are hitting the expected benchmarks and some are pushing beyond.

Digging deeper into the exam data, the school’s strongest subject areas are English and the open bucket of qualifications, where Progress 8 scores hit 0.35 and 0.25 respectively. Maths, by contrast, is slightly negative at -0.1, suggesting that while the school is strong overall, numeracy is an area where some pupils may need extra support. The EBacc entry rate is 35.1 per cent, and 23.3 per cent of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above — a measure of how many take a broad academic core. At A-level, the sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted and delivers a points-per-entry score of 31.94, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ too, and the value-added score of -0.08 is rated as Average, meaning students leave sixth form with results broadly in line with expectations given their starting points.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 207 places in 2025/26, there were 792 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.83. Of those, 251 put the school as their first preference, and 178 first-preference offers were made. With 50.6 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, this is a school serving a significantly disadvantaged community, and the Progress 8 data suggests it is adding real value for those pupils. Facilities are generous for a state school: a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, astro turf, playing fields, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. The SEND register covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families in Birmingham looking for a large, inclusive secondary with a strong academic track record and a proper sixth form, this is a school that merits serious consideration.

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