Wheelers Lane Technology College
102%
Capacity
664
Pupils
5.0x
Demand
About Wheelers Lane Technology College
Wheelers Lane Technology College, a boys' secondary school in Birmingham, posts a Progress 8 score of 0.19, which is above the local authority average of 0.09 for its school type. This positive score means that, on average, pupils here achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than students across Birmingham with similar starting points. The school ranks 37th out of 95 secondary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top half of Birmingham's state secondaries. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 49.4, and a strong 74.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school's Progress 8 banding is rated as 'Average', but the underlying data shows particular strength in maths, where the Progress 8 score reaches 0.46, significantly outpacing the school's overall figure.
The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, awarded it Outstanding grades across the board for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. This is a repeat of its previous Outstanding rating from 2014, confirming sustained high standards. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 96% of respondents would recommend the school, and 94% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy. Strong majorities also feel the school has high expectations (88%) and that their child does well (92%). The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, and the EBacc entry rate of 29.2% is modest, with 23.1% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above.
Wheelers Lane is heavily oversubscribed: for 134 places in 2025/26, it received 667 applications, a ratio of nearly five applicants per place, with 164 first-preference applications for 120 offers. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, gymnasium, and tennis courts, and clubs span coding, chess, and Young Enterprise. It supports a broad spectrum of SEND needs, from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties to autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 37.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. This is a strong choice for Birmingham families seeking a high-performing, well-regarded boys' school with a clear academic focus and excellent behaviour standards.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Wheelers Lane, Birmingham, Birmingham, B13 0SF |
| Headteacher | Scott Wheeldon |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 664 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 37.2% |
| School Capacity | 664 / 650 (102% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Feb 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 16 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.19)
1105th of 3,141
Nationally
108th of 371
In West Midlands
36th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
Ofsted Parent View
101 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
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
2025/26Oversubscribed134
667
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
164 families put this school as their 1st choice (25% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
- Asian44.1%
- White British32.2%
- Mixed9.4%
- White (other)2.9%
- Black0.3%
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.
Half 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.
15
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
8
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wheelers Lane Technology College
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
Wheelers Lane, Birmingham
Birmingham, B13 0SF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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