Waverley School
Birmingham, B9 5QA · Birmingham · all-through school
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63rd 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 — 5.8/10 against 263 of them, against 3.4/10 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 | 32% | 1.69 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 36.0 · 27 | 31% | 0.85 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.04 · 47 | 26% | 1.23 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.1 · 20 | 10% | 0.21 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Waverley School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2021. In 2024/25, 33.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.9, 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 (6.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in cricket.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,687 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,947. 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 steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the cricket programme integrate with the wider curriculum or extracurricular schedule?
What Ofsted said about Waverley School
Overview
Waverley School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking an improvement from its previous rating. The report describes a school where pupils are ‘happy to come’ and behave well, supported by an ‘ambitious’ curriculum that effectively stretches learners regardless of their starting points. Leaders have established strong assessment systems and a supportive environment for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate ‘enthusiastic’ engagement in learning, with particular praise for ‘vibrant Spanish lessons’ and a strong understanding of diversity and respect.
- The curriculum is ‘well sequenced’ in many subjects, such as music and modern foreign languages, enabling pupils to build on prior learning and achieve well.
- Early years provision is effective, with a ‘well-sequenced’ phonics programme in Reception ensuring children can ‘decode successfully’.
- Safeguarding arrangements are ‘effective’, with leaders who are ‘well trained’ and a ‘strong culture of encouraging pupils to speak up’.
- The sixth-form curriculum offers an ‘impressive range of destinations’, with disadvantaged students and those with SEND achieving positive outcomes.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should engage with parents to address concerns regarding ‘communication and the information they receive’, ensuring all families feel involved.
- Leaders must do more to ensure staff feel their ‘workload is manageable’, as many expressed feeling overworked.
- Phonics teaching in Years 1 and 2 lacks consistency; leaders should review provision to ensure pupils decode unfamiliar words with confidence.
- Curriculum planning in history is ‘not as well sequenced’ from primary to secondary as in other subjects, requiring closer liaison between phases.
Safeguarding
Arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with secure records, prompt referrals, and robust processes for safer recruitment overseen by knowledgeable trustees.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.7 |
| 2024/25 | 41.9 |
| 2025/26 | 40.1 |
| 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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