Nishkam High School
96%
Capacity
670
Pupils
9.3x
Demand
About Nishkam High School
Nishkam High School’s Progress 8 score of 0.69 sits well above the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09, placing it firmly among the strongest performers in the city. That gap is substantial — roughly seven times the LA average — and it’s reflected in the school’s national ranking, where it sits in the top 10% of all schools in England. Within Birmingham’s 95 state secondaries, Nishkam ranks 13th, and across the West Midlands it’s in the top 6%. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 52.8 and EBacc average point score of 5.04 further underline strong academic outcomes, with 76.5% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. These figures are particularly striking given that 30.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a proportion well above the national average. The school is also heavily oversubscribed — 994 applications for 107 places in 2025/26, with 196 first-preference applications — suggesting local families recognise the value on offer.
Ofsted’s most recent inspection in March 2025 awarded Outstanding across every graded category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This is a clean sweep, and it follows an earlier Outstanding rating from 2014. The school’s sixth form also performs strongly, with a value-added score of 0.24 and an average A-level grade of B- per entry. The progress pupils make in the EBacc subjects is particularly impressive, with a Progress 8 EBacc score of 0.88, and the school’s EBacc entry rate of 83.3% shows a clear commitment to a broad academic curriculum. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive — 95% of respondents would recommend the school, and large majorities strongly agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. On SEND support, 88% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the school meets those needs, though the sample size for that question is small.
The school is a Sikh faith school but welcomes pupils of all backgrounds, and its facilities are generous for a state school: a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre. Sports include rowing, gymnastics, and netball, and there are clubs ranging from debate to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school’s SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With 670 pupils against a capacity of 700, the school is near full, and its oversubscription ratio of 9.29 to 1 means applying early and as a first preference is essential. Nishkam High School is a strong fit for academically ambitious families who value structure, high expectations, and a faith-grounded ethos, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Sikh |
| Address | Great King Street North, Birmingham, Birmingham, B19 2LF |
| Headteacher | Co Principal Chris Deeks Co Principal Emma Wilks |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 670 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 30.7% |
| School Capacity | 670 / 700 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
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 (+0.69)
288th of 3,141
Nationally
21st of 371
In West Midlands
13th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
42.0
'22/23
36.6
'23/24
37.5
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
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 54 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
39%
Russell Group
39%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)72%
- Employment13%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
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
108 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed107
994
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
196 families put this school as their 1st choice (20% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian71.6%
- Mixed6.8%
- Black1.0%
- White British0.6%
- White (other)0.3%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
26
Total schools
22
Oversubscribed
17
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 Nishkam High School
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
Great King Street North, Birmingham
Birmingham, B19 2LF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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