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The Birley Academy

Sheffield, S12 3BPSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Good
May 2025
Progress 8
-0.28
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
183 1st-choice / 231 places
Ranking
#2,198
of 3,141 nationally

About The Birley Academy

The Birley Academy is a mixed secondary school in Sheffield for pupils aged 11 to 16, and it is currently running close to full capacity with 1,108 pupils against a school capacity of 1,163. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 36.4%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school's role in serving a community with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 302 applications for 231 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.31 applicants per place. Of those, 183 were first-preference applications, and 182 first-preference offers were made, indicating that most families who put the school first were successful. The school is led by headteacher Victoria Hall and has no religious character. It does not have a sixth form or nursery provision, so pupils typically move on elsewhere after Year 11.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBirley Lane, Sheffield, Sheffield, S12 3BP
HeadteacherVictoria Hall
Local AuthoritySheffield
Number of Pupils1,108
Free School Meals (FSM)36.4%
School Capacity1,108 / 1,163 (95% full)

The full report on this school

What 116 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

13 May 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 1 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Swimming PoolSports HallMusic RoomsScience LabsAstro TurfPlaying FieldsTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreTheatreICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

TennisNetballAthleticsBasketballHockeyDanceCross Country

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaChoirDebateDuke of EdinburghArt ClubNewspaperBook ClubModel United NationsChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:25 – 14:55

Source: birleysecondaryacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Birley Academy

The Birley Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.