SchoolScoresShire Oak Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE MERCIAN TRUST
Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, Walsall, WS9 9PA
01543 452518 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 21 January 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.
Category of concern: Special measures.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Inadequate |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Inadequate |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Inadequate |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
91 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Walsall comparisons use the 6 of its 16 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 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 | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 12% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55% | 76% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 8% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 80% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 11% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 75% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 36 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 15% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 28% | 48% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 85 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 11% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 65% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 29 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 17% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 38% | 64% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Walsall. Higher than 8% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47%said yes | 76% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 7%). 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. Walsall figures pool parents at the Walsall 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
244 pupils in this year group.
26% — 13 points below the Walsall average, and 20 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 26% | 39% | 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. | 35 | 43 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.9 | 3.8 | 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.
241 pupils in this year group.
86% — 4 points below the Walsall average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Walsall | 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 | 35% | 43% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 44% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 5% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
67 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 16% | 23% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 37% | 49% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 28.7 | 33.5 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
17 subjects, 141 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | 18 | 0% | 6% | 23% |
| Biology | 16 | 6% | 38% | 27% |
| Mathematics | 15 | 20% | 33% | 40% |
| Sociology | 13 | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 11 | 9% | 27% | 30% |
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 11 | 0% | 0% | 15% |
| History | 9 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Psychology | 9 | 11% | 11% | 19% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 8 | 0% | 0% | 24% |
| Art and Design (Photography) | 7 | 0% | 29% | 26% |
| English Literature | 7 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Economics, English Language, Physics, Art and Design (Fine Art), Government and Politics, Drama and Theatre Studies.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
114 students in this year group.
83% — 8 points above the Walsall average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 83% | 75% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 8% | 7% |
| Work | 25% | 24% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 82% | 83% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
100 students in this year group.
60% — 3 points above the Walsall average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 60% | 57% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 6% | 17% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 68% | 60% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Walsall. 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 | 128 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 67 |
| Of those, offered a place | 67 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 206 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.4 · 2025: 0.4 · 2026: 0.5
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 10 places. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.9% | 41.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 52% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.0% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4% | 13.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 21.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3% | 9.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 43.4% | 26.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 12th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Lower than 30% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 25.4 | 23.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 11th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.7% | 7.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.08% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 16.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Walsall. Higher than 96% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 30.9% | 15.4%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Brownhills Ormiston Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), some aspects weaker 2024 · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- Erasmus Darwin Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic College 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- Aldridge School - A Science College 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Shire Oak Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 21 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Shire Oak Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 26% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 20 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Shire Oak Academy?
47% of the 91 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Shire Oak Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Shire Oak Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 67 families put Shire Oak Academy as their first choice for 128 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 67 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 136620.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.