Shire Oak Academy
Walsall, WS9 9PA · Walsall · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th of 19 secondary schools in Walsall we can score. 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 — 1.4/10 against 440 of them, against 0.8/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.9 · 12 | 46% | 0.54 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.01 · 2 | 38% | 0.10 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.0 · 9 | 15% | 0.14 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Shire Oak Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 25.8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.01 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Coding and Gaming clubs, play Horse Riding and Cricket, or participate in Gardening.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,149 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,491. 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 strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Shire Oak Academy
Overview
The report states that "standards at Shire Oak Academy have been too low for too long" and that "pupils’ experiences are very poor." It concludes that the school is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education and requires special measures, noting that weaknesses in teaching, behaviour, and attendance have persisted due to ineffective accountability.
Strengths
- Sixth-form provision is rated "Good," with students receiving "more coherent" support for their next steps.
- Safeguarding arrangements are described as "effective."
- The school has reviewed its curriculum to identify key knowledge and put provision in place for pupils needing additional reading support.
- New systems are now in place to check the suitability of placements in alternative provisions.
Areas to improve
- The school must implement effective strategies to improve attendance, as "far too many pupils often miss school" and truant from lessons.
- Trustees and trust leaders must establish clear accountability systems, as they have "not held the school to account effectively" for declining standards.
- The behaviour policy must be fit for purpose and implemented consistently, as staff currently lack clarity and "poor behaviour is not consistently challenged."
- Teachers must be ensured to have the subject knowledge needed to teach the curriculum effectively, with precise checks on pupil understanding.
- The experience of vulnerable pupils, including those with SEND, must be prioritised through strategic developments to improve their achievement and participation.
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 | 35.3 |
| 2024/25 | 35.0 |
| 2025/26 | 37.0 |
| 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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