Shireland Collegiate Academy
127%
Capacity
1,518
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Shireland Collegiate Academy
Shireland Collegiate Academy is a mixed 11-19 state secondary in Sandwell, West Midlands, and it stands out as one of the stronger performers in the local authority. Ranked 4th out of 19 secondary schools in Sandwell by Progress 8 score, it sits in the top 25% of schools nationally. The three schools ahead of it locally are Q3 Academy Langley, Bristnall Hall Academy, and St Michael's Church of England High School, with Bristnall Hall also being the nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted, just 2km away. Shireland itself was rated Good in its most recent 2024 inspection, but the detail is more nuanced: while overall effectiveness was not judged, inspectors awarded Outstanding for sixth-form provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes. Leadership and management, along with quality of education, were rated Good. The school is heavily oversubscribed, receiving 619 applications for 248 places in 2025/26, with 301 first-preference applications and 219 offers made to first-preference families.
Academically, Shireland delivers results that are comfortably above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.38 is rated 'Above average' and compares very favourably with the Sandwell LA average of -0.14. Attainment 8 sits at 47.6, and 69.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school enters a high proportion of pupils for the EBacc (59.6%), though only 6.3% achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score of -0.17 is rated 'Below average', and the average points per entry is 31.17, equivalent to a grade C. However, 17.3% of entries achieved grades AAB or higher, and the best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 89% would recommend the school, and 91% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there.
The school is well equipped for a large secondary, with facilities including a library, science labs, ICT suite, theatre, music rooms, art studios, sports hall, tennis courts, playing fields, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. It also has a chapel, which is notable given its non-religious character. The clubs and sports on offer are varied, including Debate, Model UN, Eco Club, DofE, and sports like rowing, martial arts, and cross country. SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 41.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake, yet achieves strong outcomes. It is a good fit for families who want a large, well-run secondary with a strong sixth form, a clear focus on behaviour and personal development, and a proven track record of academic progress above the local norm.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Waterloo Road, Smethwick, Sandwell, B66 4ND |
| Headteacher | Tom Daly |
| Local Authority | Sandwell |
| Number of Pupils | 1,518 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 41.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,518 / 1,191 (127% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.38)
684th of 3,141
Nationally
66th of 371
In West Midlands
4th of 19
In Sandwell
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
32.4
'22/23
29.3
'23/24
31.2
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
2022/2357%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 200 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)57%
- FE college36%
- Sixth form college5%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
98% 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
2022/2366%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 102 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
17%
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)66%
- Employment16%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education2%
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- Biology30
- Chemistry29
- Design and Technology (Product Design)21
- Mathematics19
- Psychology17
- Art and Design (Photography)16
- English Literature14
- Art and Design (Textiles)13
- Sociology10
- Religious Studies9
- Art and Design (Fine Art)7
- Geography6
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.
Ofsted Parent View
56 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed248
619
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
301 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian52.1%
- Mixed8.3%
- White British5.3%
- White (other)4.2%
- Black2.0%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
20
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
17
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 Shireland Collegiate 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
Waterloo Road, Smethwick
Sandwell, B66 4ND
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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