Q3 Academy Great Barr
101%
Capacity
1,163
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Q3 Academy Great Barr
Q3 Academy Great Barr is a secondary school in Sandwell that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 506 applications for 204 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.48 — meaning nearly two and a half families applied for every spot. Of those, 197 put it as their first preference, and 171 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests the school has a solid reputation locally, even if it isn't the most oversubscribed in the borough. The school is a Christian mixed state secondary for ages 11 to 19, with 1,163 pupils on roll — slightly over its official capacity of 1,150. Just under a quarter of pupils (24.9%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the school's inclusive intake.
Academically, the picture is mixed. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. That's a clear improvement from its previous inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At GCSE, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.29, which is below the Sandwell local authority average of -0.14, and places it 12th out of 19 secondary schools in the borough. Attainment 8 sits at 44.5, and 45.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 33.6%, with 6.2% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is brighter: the school's value-added score of 0.27 is rated Above average, with students averaging a C+ grade across their best three A-levels, and the sixth form is officially part of the school.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and sixth form centre, plus sports like hockey, rugby, and martial arts. Clubs cover everything from coding and Model UN to gardening and orchestra. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities among others. Given its oversubscription, families need to apply early and ideally as a first preference. This school will suit parents who want a large, inclusive secondary with a strong sixth form and a Christian character, but who are comfortable with GCSE results that sit slightly below the local average. The Good Ofsted rating and improving sixth form outcomes are positive signals for families looking beyond Year 11.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | Wilderness Lane, Birmingham, Sandwell, B43 7SD |
| Headteacher | Chris Bury |
| Local Authority | Sandwell |
| Number of Pupils | 1,163 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,163 / 1,150 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Sept 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 17 Apr 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.29)
2234th of 3,141
Nationally
239th of 371
In West Midlands
12th 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.3
'22/23
30.4
'23/24
32.5
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
2022/2341%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 207 pupils).
- FE college52%
- School sixth form (stay)41%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship2%
95% 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
2022/2370%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 40 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
20%
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)70%
- Apprenticeship13%
- Employment10%
- Not sustained3%
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- Psychology34
- Biology22
- Sociology20
- Business Studies:Single19
- Mathematics14
- Chemistry13
- Economics11
- Government and Politics11
- History10
- English Language and Literature8
- Computer Studies / Computing7
- Physical Education / Sports Studies7
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
506
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
197 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: q3academy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British36.3%
- Asian32.7%
- Mixed12.1%
- 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Q3 Academy Great Barr
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
Wilderness Lane, Birmingham
Sandwell, B43 7SD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Q3 Academy Great Barr!
Write a Review