Wombourne High School
91%
Capacity
1,002
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Wombourne High School
Wombourne High School is a mixed state secondary and sixth form in South Staffordshire that is clearly popular with local families. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 346 applications for 203 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.7, with 194 of those applications coming as first preferences. Of those first-preference applicants, 177 were offered places. The school currently has 1,002 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,106, meaning it is running at just over 90% full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 16.4%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a relatively diverse socioeconomic intake. Headteacher Nick Bradnick-Thompson leads a non-denominational school that does not have a religious character, and the school does not offer boarding or nursery provision.
Academically, Wombourne presents a mixed picture. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2022 rated the school Good overall, with Good marks across all five categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This was a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 4, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.08, which is banded as Average and sits above the Staffordshire local authority average of -0.18. Attainment 8 stands at 44, and 63.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.97, with 57.4% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of qualifications. At A-level, the picture is weaker: the school's value-added score is -0.56, banded as Below average, with an average points per entry of 25.93 (equivalent to a C- grade). The best three A-levels average out at grade C.
The school is well equipped with facilities that include a swimming pool, theatre, gymnasium, sports hall, tennis courts, music rooms, art studios, a library, playing fields, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is broad, covering cricket, netball, gymnastics, tennis, dance, basketball, rugby, martial arts, rowing, and athletics, while extracurricular clubs include Drama, Newspaper, Art Club, Gardening, Science Club, Duke of Edinburgh, Model UN, and Debate. The school's SEND provisions are extensive, covering specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This breadth of support, combined with the school's strong demand and improving Ofsted trajectory, makes Wombourne High School a solid choice for families in South Staffordshire seeking a state secondary with a genuine sixth form and a wide range of facilities and activities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ounsdale Road, Wolverhampton, South Staffordshire, WV5 8BJ |
| Headteacher | Nick Bradnick-Thompson |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,002 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,002 / 1,106 (91% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1719th of 3,141
Nationally
169th of 371
In West Midlands
4th of 7
In South Staffordshire
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
35.6
'22/23
29.4
'23/24
25.9
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
2022/2335%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 180 pupils).
- FE college41%
- School sixth form (stay)35%
- Sixth form college8%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment3%
92% 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
2022/2363%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 30 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
5%
Russell Group
5%
Top-third HE
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)63%
- Apprenticeship17%
- Employment13%
- Further education3%
- Not sustained3%
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- Psychology33
- Biology24
- Business Studies:Single22
- Chemistry19
- Sociology13
- Mathematics10
- Computer Studies / Computing9
- English Literature9
- History8
- Accounting / Finance7
- Geography6
- Film Studies5
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed203
346
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
194 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% 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.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.7%
- Mixed3.1%
- Asian2.4%
- White (other)0.9%
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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 Wombourne High 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
Ounsdale Road, Wolverhampton
South Staffordshire, WV5 8BJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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