Woodrush High School
94%
Capacity
1,019
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Woodrush High School
Woodrush High School is a popular choice among local families, with 356 applications for 178 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of exactly 2:1. Of those applicants, 187 put the school as their first preference, and 162 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests parents in Bromsgrove see it as a solid option, though it's worth noting that the school ranks 24th out of 47 similar schools in Worcestershire on Progress 8. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary with a sixth form, currently led by headteacher John Barber. It has capacity for 1080 pupils and currently enrols 1019, so there is a little breathing room. Just over 13% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with the national average for state secondaries.
Academically, Woodrush's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2018 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. An ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, and sixth-form provision was separately rated Good. However, the headline Progress 8 score for 2023/24 is -0.41, which is below the local authority average of -0.21 and places the school in the bottom 50 nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 42, and 57.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.72, with 46.2% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the average points per entry is 27.17 (equivalent to a C- grade), and the value-added score is -0.21, which is rated as below average. The school's sixth form is small, with 41 pupils in the data.
On the practical side, Woodrush offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision is strong, with rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics alongside more traditional options like rugby and cricket. There are also numerous clubs including Debate, Coding, Young Enterprise, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school has a broad SEND offer, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families who value a school with strong leadership and a good Ofsted rating but are comfortable with below-average Progress 8 scores, Woodrush is a well-resourced local option that clearly appeals to many parents in the area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Shawhurst Lane, Wythall, Bromsgrove, B47 5JW |
| Headteacher | John Barber |
| Local Authority | Worcestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,019 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,019 / 1,080 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (24 Apr 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jan 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.41)
2461st of 3,141
Nationally
272nd of 371
In West Midlands
5th of 5
In Bromsgrove
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.0
'22/23
29.3
'23/24
27.2
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
2022/2338%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 180 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)38%
- FE college37%
- Sixth form college9%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
94% 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
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 42 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
13%
Russell Group
17%
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)62%
- Not sustained17%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Other education2%
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- Psychology19
- Business Studies:Single18
- Chemistry16
- Biology15
- Geography13
- Mathematics12
- English Literature11
- Physics11
- Sociology10
- Physical Education / Sports Studies9
- History8
- English Language6
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
356
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
187 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% 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 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 British85.0%
- Mixed7.0%
- Asian3.9%
- White (other)1.9%
- Black0.2%
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.
Half 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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 Woodrush 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
Shawhurst Lane, Wythall
Bromsgrove, B47 5JW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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