The University of Birmingham School
102%
Capacity
1,177
Pupils
11.3x
Demand
About The University of Birmingham School
The University of Birmingham School is a mixed state secondary in Birmingham that is significantly oversubscribed, reflecting strong local demand. With 1,672 applications for 148 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 253 first-preference applications and made 109 offers to first-preference families, giving an oversubscription ratio of 11.3 applicants per place. The school currently has 1,177 pupils against a capacity of 1,150, meaning it is operating slightly above its official number. Its free school meals rate of 38.2% is notably higher than the national average, indicating a diverse intake with a substantial proportion of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school has no religious character and is non-selective, which fits with its role as a comprehensive serving a broad cross-section of the local community.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score of -0.09 is classed as 'Average' and sits just below the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09. This means pupils overall achieve slightly less progress than peers in similar schools across the city, though the difference is small. Attainment 8 sits at 47.1, and 64.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 73.3%, though only 29.1% achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value added score of -0.12 is rated 'Below average', with pupils averaging a C+ grade per entry and 33.32 points per entry. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was judged to remain Good overall, with leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and overall effectiveness all rated Good.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, art studios, music rooms, a sixth-form centre, and astro turf pitches. Sports provision includes netball, football, rugby, martial arts, and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs cover drama, choir, orchestra, debate, and eco club. The school has a dedicated sixth form and provides support for a broad spectrum of special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its high oversubscription and strong first-preference demand, this is a school that local families clearly want to get into, and it will particularly suit those who value a large, diverse comprehensive with a strong EBacc focus and a wide range of enrichment activities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Weoley Park Road, Birmingham, Birmingham, B29 6QU |
| Headteacher | Colin Townsend |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,177 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,177 / 1,150 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (17 May 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 Jun 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.09)
1760th of 3,141
Nationally
176th of 371
In West Midlands
55th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
38.0
'22/23
32.7
'23/24
33.3
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
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 139 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college27%
- Sixth form college12%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained4%
96% 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
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 189 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
31%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)74%
- Not sustained11%
- Employment8%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Biology85
- Mathematics82
- Chemistry78
- Psychology54
- Business Studies:Single34
- Computer Studies / Computing27
- Government and Politics23
- History22
- Physics22
- English Literature21
- Sociology19
- Art and Design (Fine Art)18
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed148
1,672
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
253 families put this school as their 1st choice (15% 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 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian39.0%
- White British16.2%
- Mixed10.2%
- White (other)4.8%
- Black0.7%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
19
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
12
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 The University of Birmingham 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Weoley Park Road, Birmingham
Birmingham, B29 6QU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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