The Olive School, Birmingham

About The Olive School, Birmingham

The Olive School, Birmingham, is a Muslim primary school that is running at its full capacity of 630 pupils, a clear sign of its popularity. The school serves a community with a high level of disadvantage; 38.6% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Demand for places is intense. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 487 applications for just 90 places, making it heavily oversubscribed. Of those applications, 192 were first-preference choices, and only 84 offers were made to first-preference families. This works out at an oversubscription ratio of 5.41 applicants per place, meaning competition for a spot is fierce. The school's headteacher is Rifat Batool.

Academically, the school performs at a very high level. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 91% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Birmingham local authority average of just 63%. This puts the school 6th out of 254 primary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 2.4% nationally. A striking 29% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. In maths, the average score was 110, with 57% of pupils reaching the higher standard. Reading and writing also saw strong results, with average scores of 109 and 93% of pupils meeting the expected standard in writing. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in February 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and it retains its Outstanding rating from its 2019 graded inspection, where leadership, early years provision and overall effectiveness were all judged outstanding.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, art studios, gymnasium and an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include netball, football, cricket and tennis, while clubs range from science and chess to gardening and eco club. The school has a dedicated chapel, reflecting its Muslim religious character. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive; 97% of respondents to the Ofsted Parent View questionnaire would recommend the school, and 81% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. However, it is worth noting that among the 17% of parents with children receiving SEND support, 20% strongly disagreed that the school gives them the support they need, which is a point to investigate if your child has an education, health and care plan. This is a school for families who are prepared to navigate a highly competitive admissions process for a proven, high-achieving primary education.

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