Holyhead School
Birmingham, B21 0HN · Birmingham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
54th 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 — 6.8/10 against 101 of them, against 4.2/10 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 | 41.0 · 40 | 30% | 1.20 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.04 · 47 | 25% | 1.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.6 · 37 | 10% | 0.37 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Holyhead School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2025-06. In 2024/25, 33.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.04 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,257 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,250. 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
What support is available for pupils who are below the national median in attainment? How does the school ensure progress for students with similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Holyhead School
Overview
Holyhead School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a positive environment where pupils feel valued, safe, and supported, with strong relationships between staff and students. Overall, pupils achieve well, and the school provides a broad, ambitious curriculum that supports both academic success and personal development.
Strengths
- The school fosters a ‘family’ atmosphere where ‘everyone supports and looks out for each other’, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.
- Pupils demonstrate high levels of attendance, excellent self-control, and ‘highly positive attitudes to learning’.
- The curriculum is ‘highly ambitious and well-sequenced’, with sixth-form students benefiting from challenging, independent learning and high-quality destinations.
- Support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, ensuring access to the ambitious curriculum.
- Staff feel ‘very well supported’ by a comprehensive professional development programme and trust leadership.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, teaching is not consistently effective, meaning teachers do not always check for or address key gaps in pupils’ understanding.
- Teaching is not always adapted effectively to ensure all pupils are both supported and challenged, preventing some from deepening their knowledge and embedding key skills.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.4 |
| 2024/25 | 43.2 |
| 2025/26 | 43.6 |
| 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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