Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy
105%
Capacity
1,159
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy
Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 207 first-preference applications for 237 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, though the school was oversubscribed overall with 347 total applications for those places. The oversubscription ratio of 1.46 suggests that for every place available, roughly 1.5 families wanted it, though 201 first-preference offers were made. Parent satisfaction data isn't available in the school's most recent records, but the high level of first-preference interest indicates a solid reputation in the Sandwell area. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Pete McKinniss. It has a large roll of 1,159 pupils, exceeding its official capacity of 1,100, and a significant proportion of students eligible for free school meals at 32.9%, reflecting the community it serves.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023 confirmed it remains Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015 when it was rated Requires Improvement. Leadership and management were also judged Good. However, the sixth-form provision was rated Requires Improvement, though this is less relevant as the school has no official sixth form. In the 2023/24 exam results, the school's Progress 8 score was -0.38, which is below the national average and ranks it 14th out of 19 schools in Sandwell local authority, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. The local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.14, so Ormiston Sandwell sits below this benchmark. Attainment 8 was 39.9, and the basics measure (grade 5 or above in English and maths) was achieved by 32.8% of pupils. Progress in English was positive at +0.4, but maths progress was weaker at -0.62.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, playing fields, and science labs, plus clubs such as Debate, Orchestra, Coding, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Sports on offer include netball, rowing, and athletics. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health difficulties. Given its large size, strong parent demand, and comprehensive SEND support, this school may suit families who value a well-equipped, inclusive secondary with a clear improvement trajectory from its previous inspection, though those prioritising top academic outcomes in the local area might look at higher-ranked peers like Bristnall Hall Academy, which is 4.2 km away and rated Outstanding.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Lower City Road, Oldbury, Sandwell, B69 2HE |
| Headteacher | Pete McKinniss |
| Local Authority | Sandwell |
| Number of Pupils | 1,159 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,159 / 1,100 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (25 Oct 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 May 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.38)
2417th of 3,141
Nationally
268th of 371
In West Midlands
14th of 19
In Sandwell
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 204 pupils).
- FE college64%
- Sixth form college14%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
93% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed237
347
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
207 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:05
Source: ormistonsandwell.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British39.3%
- Asian31.8%
- Mixed10.3%
- White (other)4.2%
- Black1.5%
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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ormiston Sandwell Community 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
Lower City Road, Oldbury
Sandwell, B69 2HE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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