Plantsbrook School
Sutton Coldfield, B72 1RB · Birmingham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
36th 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 the 866 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.2/10 among them, against 6.3/10 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 | 54.6 · 72 | 30% | 2.18 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.01 · 50 | 25% | 1.24 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.1 · 66 | 10% | 0.66 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Plantsbrook School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2025. In 2024/25, 59.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 51.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.01 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.2 out of 10 among them, against 6.9 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,574 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,498. 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
Since Progress 8 is slightly below the national benchmark, what specific support is available for pupils who are not meeting expected progress? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while managing a roll that exceeds its designated capacity?
What Ofsted said about Plantsbrook School
Overview
Plantsbrook School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a school where pupils are “safe and enjoy learning,” supported by a “strong sense of belonging and togetherness.” Leaders and staff are committed to ensuring pupils are “ready for the next stage of their education,” with a culture that is “ambitious” for all students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “well designed,” ensuring pupils learn knowledge in “clearly defined steps” before tackling complex ideas.
- Behaviour is described as “exemplary,” with a rewards and sanctions policy that is “understood by all and consistently applied.”
- Attendance is managed effectively through “well-developed systems” that identify barriers and support pupils holistically.
- Pupils benefit from “wide-ranging opportunities” beyond the classroom, including musical events, sports, and leadership roles.
- Staff work successfully with external agencies to provide “swift and effective support” for reading and additional needs.
Areas to improve
- Assessment is not used “consistently and precisely” to check what pupils know, leading to gaps in knowledge for some.
- Staff do not always “identify and address pupils’ misconceptions effectively enough,” particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
- The school must ensure all staff have the expertise to make “purposeful checks on pupils’ knowledge” to address learning gaps.
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 | 50.8 |
| 2024/25 | 51.8 |
| 2025/26 | 49.1 |
| 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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