SchoolScoresThe Heights Academy
Special free school · All-through, ages 7 to 16 · Mixed
Part of FORWARD EDUCATION TRUST
Auckland Drive, Solihull, B36 0DD
0121 269 6000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 20 May 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 | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| 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
30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 27% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 30% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 13% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 20 parents whose child had been bullied | 10% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern | 27% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 30 parents of children with SEND | 27% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 27%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 61%). 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. 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Solihull. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round.
| Pupils | This school | Solihull | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 55.1% | 55.5%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.8%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.2%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 2.0% | 6.5%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 28.0% | 15.3%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 61.5% | 43.5%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 59.2 | 13.1 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 32.7% | 7.0% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 28.6% | 14.2%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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 special schools
- Castlewood School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Forest Oak School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2014), confirmed 2024
- Merstone School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 8 strong
- Silver Birch School 1.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected
- Leycroft Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hallmoor School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Kitts Green Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 needs attention
- Beaufort School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodlands 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023)
- Braidwood School for the Deaf 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024 · 7% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Heights Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend The Heights Academy?
27% of the 30 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Heights Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149753.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.