Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre
Birmingham, B32 3AE · Birmingham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
31st of 88 secondary schools in Birmingham we can score, 89 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.9/10 against 277 of them, against 6.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 47.5 · 57 | 30% | 1.70 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.46 · 82 | 25% | 2.05 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.6 · 68 | 10% | 0.68 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022. In 2024/25, 46.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 52.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.46 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 627 pupils against a stated capacity of 720. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils in raising their attainment from the current 52.1 score? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the school plan to maintain its Good rating following the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre
Overview
Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre continues to be a good school, where pupils are described as "hard-working, polite and welcoming." Leaders have established an "ambitious curriculum" with high expectations, resulting in pupils who "achieve well" and behave responsibly. The school fosters a positive environment where students feel safe and are supported in their academic and personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils are "tolerant of others" and enjoy a "wide-ranging careers programme" that includes tailored work experience.
- Teachers "plan lessons so that pupils add to their knowledge in manageable steps" and use assessment effectively to address misconceptions.
- There is a "strong emphasis on the importance of reading," with staff providing good support for weaker readers.
- Leaders show "clarity of purpose" and use external evaluation well to drive continual improvement.
- Sixth form students appreciate the "individual academic guidance" provided by teachers.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should enhance learning in religious education and design technology to ensure pupils have breadth of opportunities "equivalent to the national curriculum."
- Leaders must ensure all teachers receive and effectively use information about pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to address inconsistencies in provision.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff well trained to identify risks and pupils knowing there is "always someone to talk to."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.8 |
| 2024/25 | 52.1 |
| 2025/26 | 49.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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