Shireland Collegiate Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of SHIRELAND COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TRUST

Waterloo Road, Smethwick, B66 4ND

0121 558 8086 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 15 October 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 9th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 32% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,585Room for 1,191 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,279 in 2019, 1,418 in 2021, 1,497 in 2022, 1,557 in 2023, 1,519 in 2024, 1,518 in 2025, 1,585 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.4332 for 244 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 89% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 15 October 2024, 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Sandwell comparisons use the 12 of its 22 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.

StatementThis schoolSandwellEngland
My child is happy at this school
2nd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 79% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 77% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
2nd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 80% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 78% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 84% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 70% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 93% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 44% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 37 parents who had raised a concern
5th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 48% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 62% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 87% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 61% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandwell.
Higher than 77% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89%said yes 71% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 4%). 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. Sandwell figures pool parents at the Sandwell 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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

270 pupils in this year group.

37% — 3 points above the Sandwell average, and 8 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSandwellEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 37% 34% 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. 44.5 41.8 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 3.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 41%This school 2023/24: 49%This school 2024/25: 37% This school England 45% 2022/23 41% 2023/24 49% 2024/25 37%

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.

245 pupils in this year group.

91% — about the same as the Sandwell average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSandwellEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 91% 90% 92%
School sixth form 47% 25% 34%
Sixth form college 3% 5% 13%
Further education college 38% 54% 37%
Apprenticeship Not published 2% 3%
Work 1% 2% 3%

"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%91%

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

83 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolSandwellEngland
Average A level grade C C- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 13% 15% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 33% 39% 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. 29.1 27.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 29.3This school 2023/24: 31.2This school 2024/25: 29.1 This school England 35 2022/23 29.3 2023/24 31.2 2024/25 29.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

22 subjects, 191 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 27 0% 4% 40%
Chemistry 25 0% 0% 30%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 24 0% 4% 15%
Biology 23 0% 9% 27%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 12 8% 25% 38%
History 11 18% 45% 23%
English Literature 8 25% 25% 23%
Physics 8 0% 0% 31%
Art and Design (Photography) 7 0% 0% 26%
Psychology 7 0% 0% 19%
Art and Design (Textiles) 6 17% 17% 36%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: English Language, Sociology, German, Religious Studies, Computer Studies / Computing, Dance, Arabic, Geography, Punjabi, Spanish, Modern Greek.

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.

122 students in this year group.

77% — 6 points above the Sandwell average, and 2 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSandwellEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 77% 71% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 5% 7%
Work 11% 19% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
81%77%

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.

101 students in this year group.

73% — 14 points above the Sandwell average, and 13 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSandwellEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 73% 59% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 29% 14% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
75%73%

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 Sandwell. 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered244
Families who put it first332
Of those, offered a place228 (69%)
Families who listed it at all714

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.4

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Sandwell

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSandwellEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
44.5% 41.2%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
16th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 19% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.6% 2.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
18th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 13.0%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
48.9% 31.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Lower than 83% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.2% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
19.1% 24.2%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Lower than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.7 13.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Lower than 72% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.3% 7.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.13% 0.20% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 47% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.7 16.4 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 4th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.6 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
16th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Sandwell.
Higher than 48% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.9% 15.0%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Shireland Collegiate Academy's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 15 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Shireland Collegiate Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 8 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Shireland Collegiate Academy?

89% of the 56 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Shireland Collegiate Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Shireland Collegiate Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 332 families put Shireland Collegiate Academy as their first choice for 244 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 228 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.