Yarnfield Primary School

About Yarnfield Primary School

Yarnfield Primary School in Birmingham is a larger-than-average primary, currently home to 668 pupils against a capacity of 630, meaning it is running slightly over its official number. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage: 58.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average for primary schools. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 90 applications for 40 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.25 to one. All 34 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while the school is popular, families who put it first are likely to secure a spot. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age three through to eleven, with nursery provision on site.

Academically, Yarnfield’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and leadership and management. This represents a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. At Key Stage 2, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Birmingham local authority average of 63%. In individual subjects, 76% met the expected standard in maths and 72% in writing, while reading was lower at 60%. Higher-attaining pupils are less common here: just 2% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and 15% did so in maths. Average scaled scores were 103 in maths and 101 in reading. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom quarter for combined expected standards, sitting at the 73rd percentile.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a forest school, sports hall, gymnasium, ICT suite and art studios, with clubs covering art, drama and film. Sports provision includes swimming, cricket, netball, tennis and dance. Yarnfield has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children require additional support within a mainstream setting. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is The Olive School, Birmingham, 0.8 km away, which may be an alternative for families prioritising top Ofsted grades, but Yarnfield’s improved inspection trajectory and strong personal development rating are notable draws.

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