Smith's Wood Academy
74%
Capacity
744
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Smith's Wood Academy
Smith's Wood Academy sits in the Solihull local authority, but its performance data places it at the very bottom of the area's secondary schools. Ranked 15th out of 15 schools in Solihull, it sits in the 100th percentile locally, meaning every other state secondary in the borough recorded a higher Progress 8 score. For context, the top-performing peers in the same LA include Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull, Arden, and Lyndon School, all of which achieved positive Progress 8 scores. The school's own Progress 8 score of -1.52 is classified as 'well below average' nationally, and it ranks 3100th out of 3141 schools across England. This is a school that has been struggling significantly compared with its neighbours, and the gap between it and the local average Progress 8 score of -0.12 is stark.
Academically, the picture is challenging. In the 2023/24 exam cycle, Smith's Wood pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 30, well below the national average, and only 16.6% of students achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score was 2.86, with just 6.9% of pupils entering and achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, rated it Inadequate across every category: quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. This was a downgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The Parent View survey, completed by 49 respondents between September 2024 and September 2025, reflects considerable dissatisfaction: only 37% of parents would recommend the school, and majorities disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly or that SEND children receive the support they need.
The school does have some practical assets worth noting. It operates a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, gymnasium, and art studios, and offers a range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, orchestra, drama, and science club. Sports provision covers football, rugby, netball, basketball, and gymnastics. For SEND, the school lists provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, social and emotional mental health, and specific learning difficulties. However, the school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 233 applications for 118 places, with 79 first-preference offers made. It serves a high-needs population, with 60.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Smith's Wood is a secondary for ages 11 to 16 with no sixth form, and it may suit families who live nearby and value the range of facilities, but the academic and behavioural data suggests significant challenges remain.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Windward Way, Birmingham, Solihull, B36 0UE |
| Headteacher | Stephen Huntington |
| Local Authority | Solihull |
| Number of Pupils | 744 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 60.9% |
| School Capacity | 744 / 1,000 (74% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.52)
3100th of 3,141
Nationally
368th of 371
In West Midlands
15th of 15
In Solihull
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2311%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 183 pupils).
- FE college50%
- Not sustained16%
- School sixth form (stay)11%
- Sixth form college10%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship3%
83% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
49 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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed118
233
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
79 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:00
Source: smithswood.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.4%
- Mixed14.8%
- Asian4.3%
- White (other)2.7%
- 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
2024/2575% 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.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
9
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Smith's Wood 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
Windward Way, Birmingham
Solihull, B36 0UE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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