Saltley Academy
About Saltley Academy
Saltley Academy is a large secondary school in Birmingham that is currently oversubscribed by a significant margin. With 1,380 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,350, the school is running at full stretch. For the 2025/26 intake, there were 265 places available and 1,321 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of nearly 5 to 1. Only 173 of the 183 first-preference applicants secured a place, which tells you this is a school in high demand locally. The pupil body is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage: 53.9% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and reflects the inner-city context of the school's catchment in Birmingham. The school is non-denominational, with no religious character, and is led by headteacher Paul Marano. It caters for boys and girls aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form or nursery provision on site.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 May 2023Latest monitoring visit (11 May 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 12 Mar 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:10
Source: saltley.academy. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Saltley 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications