SchoolScoresThe Oval School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of DRB IGNITE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Whittington Oval, Yardley, Birmingham, B33 8JG
0121 464 3248 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 June 2013. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
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.
Birmingham comparisons use the 162 of its 301 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 139 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 141st highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 142nd highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 139th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 18 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 68th highest of 101 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 24% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 52% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 25 parents who had raised a concern Joint 117th highest of 145 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 7% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 77% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 28th highest of 29 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 3% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 36% | 67% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 135th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 5%). 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
88 pupils in this year group.
65% — 2 points above the Birmingham average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 76% | 75% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 78 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 70 |
| Of those, offered a place | 70 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 210 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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 41st highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 65.6% | 48.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 228th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 11% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 2.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 158th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 16.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 142nd highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 36.3% | 43.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 240th lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 6.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 252nd lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 8% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 23.0% | 16.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 283rd lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 10.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 288th lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.16% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 230th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 26% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.4 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 67th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 88% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.5 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 170th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 47% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 15.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- Lift Lea Forest 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Audley Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Blakenhale Infants 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022
- Stechford Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024 · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Blakenhale Junior 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2016), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gossey Lane Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blakesley Hall Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Colebourne Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Cuthbert's RC Junior and Infant (NC) School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Oval School's Ofsted rating?
The Oval School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 June 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The Oval School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Oval School?
67% of the 30 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Oval School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Oval School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 70 families put The Oval School as their first choice for 78 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 70 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 143087.
- 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, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.