SchoolScoresE-ACT Shenley Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of E-ACT
Shenley Lane, Northfield, Birmingham, B29 4HE
0121 464 5191 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 17 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
100 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Birmingham comparisons use the 49 of its 95 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 46 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 21st highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 53% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 80% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 27th highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 82% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 26th highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 36% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 74% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 66 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 40 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 99% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 47% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 80 parents who had raised a concern Joint 14th highest of 45 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 59% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 65% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 36 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 84% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 65% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 25th highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74%said yes | 75% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Birmingham figures pool parents at the Birmingham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
139 pupils in this year group.
17% — 28 points below the Birmingham average, and 28 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 17% | 45% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 31.6 | 46.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.7 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
163 pupils in this year group.
86% — 4 points below the Birmingham average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 9% | 33% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 3% | 13% | 13% |
| Further education college | 71% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Birmingham. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 126 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 91 |
| Of those, offered a place | 91 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 337 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.7
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 27th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 60.6% | 48.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 39th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.5% | 1.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 23.5% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 79th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 52% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.7% | 37.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 91st lowest of 93 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 90th lowest of 93 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 40.0% | 24.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 94th lowest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 87.3 | 15.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 93rd lowest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 1% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 26.1% | 7.7% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.13% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 27th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 56% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1 | 16.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 39th highest of 95 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 99% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 37.7% | 14.7%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- King Edward VI Five Ways School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 97% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bournville School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bartley Green School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- The University of Birmingham School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kings Norton Girls' School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), some aspects weaker 2024 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is E-ACT Shenley Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 17 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did E-ACT Shenley Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 17% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 28 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend E-ACT Shenley Academy?
74% of the 100 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend E-ACT Shenley Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is E-ACT Shenley Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 91 families put E-ACT Shenley Academy as their first choice for 126 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 91 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 135911.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.