Queen Mary's High School
110%
Capacity
944
Pupils
6.1x
Demand
About Queen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's High School in Walsall holds an Outstanding rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, with every graded category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — all judged Outstanding. The most telling exam metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.55, which places pupils well above the national average. To put that in context, the local authority average Progress 8 score for Walsall is -0.21, meaning students here make significantly more academic progress than their peers in other local schools. The school ranks second out of 18 secondary schools in Walsall on this measure, and sits in the top 25 per cent of schools nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 72.1 is also strong, and an impressive 97.3 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths.
At GCSE, the school's EBacc average point score of 7.06 reflects a curriculum that prioritises breadth, with 87.2 per cent of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects. The Progress 8 breakdown shows particularly strong progress in the EBacc subjects (0.84) and in open subjects (0.51), while English and maths progress scores are 0.37 and 0.30 respectively. At A-level, the picture is more mixed. The school's value-added score of -0.3 is rated as below average, and the average points per entry of 38.67 equates to a B grade. However, a quarter of A-level entries achieved grades AAB or higher, and the best three A-levels averaged a B grade. The sixth form itself was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and with 96 pupils in the cohort, it remains a popular choice for continuing students.
The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 144 places in 2025/26, there were 874 applications, a ratio of over six applicants per place, and 312 families put it as their first preference. Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs and activities, from Young Enterprise and Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, orchestra, choir, and coding club. SEND provision covers a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Queen Mary's High School is a selective girls' grammar school that suits academically able students who thrive in a high-expectation environment and want strong GCSE outcomes, though families should weigh the sixth form's below-average value-added score when considering post-16 options.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Upper Forster Street, Walsall, Walsall, WS4 2AE |
| Headteacher | Nicola Daniel |
| Local Authority | Walsall |
| Number of Pupils | 944 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.5% |
| School Capacity | 944 / 858 (110% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.55)
434th of 3,141
Nationally
36th of 371
In West Midlands
2nd of 18
In Walsall
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
41.9
'22/23
39.1
'23/24
38.7
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
2022/2386%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 105 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
52%
Russell Group
52%
Top-third HE
4%
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)86%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Other education1%
- Not sustained1%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed144
874
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
312 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian61.4%
- White British14.4%
- Mixed6.3%
- White (other)2.0%
- Black1.1%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
16
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
11
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 Queen Mary's 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
Upper Forster Street, Walsall
Walsall, WS4 2AE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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