Ormiston Forge Academy

About Ormiston Forge Academy

Ormiston Forge Academy is a large secondary school in Sandwell with 1,686 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,950, meaning it is not yet full but clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 429 applications for 283 places, with 250 of those applicants listing it as their first preference. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.52, so competition for places is real. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 39.8%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school’s role in serving a community with higher-than-average deprivation. The school is mixed, non-religious, and caters for ages 11 through 18, with a dedicated Sixth Form Centre. Headteacher Lisa Mason leads a school that has seen a clear improvement trajectory: its most recent graded inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for sixth-form provision, and an ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained.

Academically, the picture is mixed. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Progress 8 score is -0.32, which is below average nationally and ranks it 13th out of 19 schools in Sandwell. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 is -0.14, so Ormiston Forge is performing below the typical Sandwell school. The Attainment 8 score is 40, and 52.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 31% reached grade 5 or above. EBacc entry is low at 6.4%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.29. At Key Stage 5, the picture is more encouraging: the value-added score is 0.05, which is average, and the average points per entry is 29.36, equating to a grade C. The best three A-levels also average a C grade. Only 33 pupils are in the sixth form, so it is a relatively small cohort, but the progress banding is rated Average, suggesting that students who stay on make solid progress relative to their starting points.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth form centre, plus extensive sports provision from athletics to rowing. Clubs include orchestra, choir, coding, chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND support covers nine categories including autism, dyslexia, and speech and language needs, though the Parent View data shows that 37% of respondents strongly disagreed that SEND children get the support they need, and only 23% strongly agreed. Overall, 65% of parents would recommend the school. This is a school that suits families who want a large, inclusive secondary with strong extracurricular breadth and a sixth form that delivers average progress, but who are realistic about GCSE outcomes that sit below the local average. The oversubscription suggests it is a popular local choice, particularly for those prioritising a non-selective, community-focused environment.

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