St John Wall Catholic School
About St John Wall Catholic School
St John Wall Catholic School is clearly a popular choice among Birmingham families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 401 applications for just 96 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.18. That means more than four families applied for every single spot, with 71 of those applications coming as first preferences. While the school doesn't publish a parent satisfaction survey, the sheer demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic secondary for mixed genders aged 11 to 16, and it currently has 620 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 600. Headteacher Katherine Marston leads a school where 59 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average, indicating a genuinely inclusive intake.
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
20 Jun 2023Source: Ofsted, 13 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St John Wall Catholic 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications