King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy
Birmingham, B45 0EU · Birmingham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
73rd 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 — 3.9/10 against 180 of them, against 1.7/10 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 | 31.9 · 18 | 30% | 0.54 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.48 · 17 | 25% | 0.42 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.5 · 17 | 10% | 0.17 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2024-03. In 2024/25, 32.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.48 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did 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 (4.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Police Cadets, The Brilliant Club, BCFC Strike a Change, and KICKS, with an after-school club also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 423 pupils against a stated capacity of 546. 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 to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the after-school club integrate with the named clubs like Police Cadets?
What Ofsted said about King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils and staff are "rightly proud" of recent improvements, fostering a "vibrant school community" defined by "caring, respectful relationships." Inspectors note that while published examination outcomes are currently low, they "do not reflect the current quality of education," as pupils now demonstrate they "know and remember more of their learning." The school is judged as Good across all inspection categories.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "broad and learned by all pupils," with "carefully sequenced" content that builds "strong foundations for future learning."
- "Personal development is a strength," supported by a "well-planned" personal, social, health and economic curriculum and "powerful assemblies."
- Identification and support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "strong," with staff making "appropriate adaptations."
- Staff feel "valued" and appreciate that leaders consider their "workload and well-being."
- Pupils "manage their behaviour well" and move around the school in a "calm, orderly manner."
Areas to improve
- Assessment tasks in some subjects lack focus on "important component knowledge," leading to "gaps in pupils’ understanding going unnoticed."
- Feedback provided to pupils is sometimes "too broad to be of good use," failing to identify specific misconceptions or what pupils need to improve.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.8 |
| 2024/25 | 41.4 |
| 2025/26 | 39.5 |
| 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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