Birches Head Academy

Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD · Stoke-on-Trent grammar school

Ofsted: Inadequate Mixed
Progress 8 (2023/24)
-0.95

Ofsted judgement breakdown (2023-10-03)

Overall effectiveness
Inadequate
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Inadequate
Personal development
Requires improvement
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding is effective?
Yes

Category of concern: SWK

What the entrance test covers

St Joseph's College's entrance test has two multiple-choice, age-standardised papers: 1. Verbal Reasoning — logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary. 2. Non-Verbal Reasoning — interpreting visual information, pattern logic and problem-solving. No English or maths curriculum papers. A standardised score around the published threshold (historically 105) meets the academic standard; the school's oversubscription criteria (including Catholic faith categories) then determine priority for its 150 Year 7 grammar places. Test in September of Year 6, results in October.

Data sourced from GIAS, Ofsted and official Stoke-on-Trent admissions publications. Figures can change year to year — always confirm with the school before applying.

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