SchoolScoresWilliam Murdoch Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Antrobus Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9NT
0121 554 0999 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 21 June 2022.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
85 pupils in this year group.
68% — 5 points above the Birmingham average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 68% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 78% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 86% | 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. | 107 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 44 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 42 |
| Of those, offered a place | 42 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 111 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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 167th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 49.5% | 48.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 256th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 2.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 281st highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.6% | 16.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 33rd highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 97% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 74.5% | 43.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 112th lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 6.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 101st lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.4% | 16.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 149th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 45% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.2 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 80th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.1 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 166th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 47% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.6% | 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
- Rookery School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grove School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Boulton 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- James Watt Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), some aspects weaker 2024 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Marys CofE Primary and Nursery, Academy, Handsworth 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Nishkam Primary School Birmingham 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Welford Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2017), confirmed 2025 · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is William Murdoch Primary School's Ofsted rating?
William Murdoch Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 June 2022.
How did William Murdoch Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points above the England average of 62%.
Is William Murdoch Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 42 families put William Murdoch Primary School as their first choice for 44 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 42 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 103317.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.