SchoolScoresThe University of Birmingham School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL
Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6QU
0121 796 5000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 April 2018.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 17 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
151 pupils in this year group.
41% — 4 points below the Birmingham average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 41% | 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. | 45.5 | 46.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 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.
151 pupils in this year group.
93% — 3 points above the Birmingham average, and about the same as 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. | 93% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 44% | 33% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 12% | 13% | 13% |
| Further education college | 36% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 93% |
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
194 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 22% | 30% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 53% | 55% | 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. | 34.8 | 34.9 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
21 subjects, 598 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 105 | 3% | 22% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 76 | 0% | 18% | 30% |
| Biology | 69 | 6% | 23% | 27% |
| Psychology | 58 | 9% | 31% | 19% |
| Physics | 42 | 0% | 10% | 31% |
| History | 35 | 0% | 9% | 23% |
| Business Studies:Single | 34 | 0% | 12% | 16% |
| Sociology | 33 | 24% | 42% | 20% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 32 | 3% | 22% | 24% |
| English Literature | 25 | 8% | 20% | 23% |
| Government and Politics | 24 | 4% | 13% | 26% |
| Geography | 20 | 0% | 15% | 23% |
| Religious Studies | 12 | 0% | 8% | 22% |
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 10 | 0% | 10% | 17% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 9 | 0% | 33% | 59% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 8 | 13% | 88% | 38% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Chinese, French, Persian, Polish, Spanish.
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.
184 students in this year group.
83% — 8 points above the Birmingham average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | 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 | 2% | 4% | 7% |
| Work | 8% | 17% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 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.
188 students in this year group.
87% — 18 points above the Birmingham average, and 27 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 87% | 69% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 52% | 28% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 87% |
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 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 about 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 147 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 285 |
| Of those, offered a place | 118 (41%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 1,588 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.7 · 2025: 1.7 · 2026: 1.9
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 72nd highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 41.3% | 48.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 1.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 76th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 41st highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 36.0% | 37.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 41st lowest of 93 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 50th lowest of 93 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 34% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 26.6% | 24.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 47th lowest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2 | 15.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 38th lowest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 48% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 7.7% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.17% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 70th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 15% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.9 | 16.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 79th highest of 95 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.1 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 43rd highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 57% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 14.6% | 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
- Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bournville School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kings Norton Girls' School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- E-ACT Shenley Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 17% grade 5+ English and maths
- Selly Park Girls' School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VI High School for Girls 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 79% A*/A at A level
- King Edward's School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The University of Birmingham School's Ofsted rating?
The University of Birmingham School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 April 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 17 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The University of Birmingham School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 41% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The University of Birmingham School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 285 families put The University of Birmingham School as their first choice for 147 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 118 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 140863.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.