St John Wall Catholic School
Birmingham, B21 8HH · Birmingham · secondary school
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22nd 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 — 9.2/10 against 212 of them, against 7.7/10 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 | 51.3 · 66 | 30% | 1.97 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.82 · 94 | 25% | 2.36 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.2 · 71 | 10% | 0.71 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St John Wall Catholic School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023-09. In 2024/25, 38.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.82 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Cross Country, Badminton, Gymnastics, Handball, Tennis, Indoor Athletics, Table Tennis, and Football.
Getting in
The published school roll is 591 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. 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 maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about St John Wall Catholic School
Overview
St John Wall Catholic School is described as a ‘unique and caring’ institution where pupils ‘blossom’ within a ‘happy, safe and harmonious’ culture. The report highlights that staff and pupils ‘live and breathe the school values’, creating an environment where ‘everyone just gets along’ and unkindness is not tolerated.
Strengths
- Behaviour and attitudes are praised, with pupils expected to be ‘attentive, compassionate and curious’.
- Leadership is ‘led with grace, determination and vision’, ensuring staff well-being and professional growth are paramount.
- The curriculum is ‘ambitious’ in most subjects, helping pupils ‘connect their knowledge across topics and themes’.
- Reading is prioritised effectively, with expert support for those with gaps in phonic knowledge.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and English as an additional language is ‘coherent’ and effective.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure the EBacc sits at the heart of the curriculum, as many pupils do not continue studying both a humanity subject and a modern foreign language beyond Year 8.
- In a small number of subjects, leaders have not ensured the curriculum precisely sets out prior knowledge, making it unclear what previous learning pupils should build on.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff described as ‘vigilant’ and ‘well trained’, reporting concerns promptly and taking swift action to support pupils at risk.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.5 |
| 2024/25 | 44.7 |
| 2025/26 | 50.2 |
| 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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