Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy
105%
Capacity
1,437
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy
Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy is a popular choice among Walsall families, with 256 first-preference applications for 258 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. The school was oversubscribed, receiving 595 total applications and offering 215 places to first-preference applicants, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.31. This level of demand suggests strong local confidence, though the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation percentage. The headteacher, Michael Riley, leads a large mixed secondary of 1,437 pupils, with capacity for 1,375. A significant proportion of students, 45.8%, are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school has a non-religious character and includes a sixth form. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, rated it Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This was an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.49, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally and ranking 15th out of 18 schools in Walsall. This is below the local authority average Progress 8 of -0.21. The Attainment 8 score was 40.4, and 57.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 23.1% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 3.32, with 39.3% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and just 3.3% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. At A-level, the picture is brighter: the school’s value-added score of 0.35 is rated Above average, with a points per entry of 36.14 (equivalent to a B- grade). The best three A-levels averaged a B+ grade, and 25% of entries were graded AAB or higher. This suggests the sixth form is a relative strength, even if GCSE outcomes lag behind local and national benchmarks.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include athletics, hockey, swimming, cricket, and badminton, while clubs range from chess and film club to Model UN and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers eight areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families considering this school, the data shows a large, inclusive community that has improved its Ofsted rating and offers a strong sixth form, but where GCSE progress is below the Walsall average. The high oversubscription rate indicates it remains a sought-after option, particularly for those prioritising a broad range of facilities and a supportive environment for students with additional needs.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Broad Way, Pelsall, Walsall, Walsall, WS4 1BW |
| Headteacher | Michael Riley |
| Local Authority | Walsall |
| Number of Pupils | 1,437 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 45.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,437 / 1,375 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.49)
2597th of 3,141
Nationally
304th of 371
In West Midlands
15th of 18
In Walsall
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
33.1
'22/23
37.5
'23/24
36.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2333%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 227 pupils).
- FE college39%
- School sixth form (stay)33%
- Not sustained11%
- Employment8%
- Apprenticeship7%
89% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2346%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 98 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
3%
Russell Group
3%
Top-third HE
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)46%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Further education3%
- Other education1%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology17
- Mathematics12
- Biology9
- History9
- Art and Design7
- Sociology7
- Business Studies:Single6
- English Literature6
- Chemistry5
- Physics5
- English Language3
- Religious Studies3
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed258
595
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
256 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% 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 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.0%
- Mixed6.2%
- Asian4.1%
- White (other)2.6%
- Black0.8%
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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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 Ormiston Shelfield 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
Broad Way, Pelsall, Walsall
Walsall, WS4 1BW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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