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Holyhead School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Milestone Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 0HN · holyheadschool.org.uk · 0121 523 1960

On the mapSearch near B21 0HN

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Feb 2020
GCSEs, 2024/25
43.2
average Attainment 8 score. Birmingham 46.6, England 46
Last distance offered
0.97 mi
1.56 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Birmingham Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,257
7 over 1,250 places · 101%
Local authority
Birmingham
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
64.7%
First language not English
74.6%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Central Region Schools Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.97 mi (1.56 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.52 mi (2.45 km). Source: Birmingham Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 205 families put the school first and 209 places were offered; 92% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 213 (Places 208)213September 2023: 222 (Places 209)222September 2024: 182 (Places 209)182September 2025: 193 (Places 211)193September 2026: 205 (Places 209)205Places 209
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 2026209205192%
September 2025Sept 20252111930.995%
September 2024Sept 20242091820.995%
September 2023Sept 20232092221.1▲82%
September 2022Sept 20222082131▲83%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20260.97 mi1.56 km
September 20251.52 mi2.45 km
September 20241.31 mi2.11 km
September 20230.69 mi1.10 km
September 20220.64 mi1.04 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.2, and 33.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Birmingham it was 46.6, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (33.4 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 43.6 (England 46.3)43.62017/18: 44.5 (England 46.5)44.52018/19: 41.8 (England 46.7)41.82021/22: 44.4 (England 48.8)44.42022/23: 40.8 (England 46.3)40.82023/24: 41.4 (England 45.9)41.42024/25: 43.2 (England 46.0)43.2England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼43.246.0
▼33.2%45.4%
▼57.2%64.8%
▼36.5%40.5%
▼3.794.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form51+10.3
Sixth form college2.4+0.5
Further education39.3−8.1
Not in a lasting destination4.9−2.3
Activity not captured2.4+1

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 27.3 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 27.3 (England 31.1)C-2017/18: 29.1 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 29.9 (England 32.9)C2021/22: 34.5 (England 37.9)C+2022/23: 32.3 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 30.7 (England 34.4)C2024/25: 33.4 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
52 studentsC+ (33.4)Average +0.17
58 studentsC+ (32.9)Average +0.15
57 studentsDist (36.4)Well above average +0.62
27 studentsDist- (30.5)Average +0.40
9.5%AAB or better
100%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2466C (30.7)+0.37
2022/2382C+ (32.3)—
2021/2269C+ (34.5)—
2018/1985C (29.9)+0.14
2017/18126C (29.1)+0.01
2016/1799C- (27.3)+0.25
2015/16129C- (27.3)+0.17

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University62.4−4.9
Further and other education8.9+1.2
Further education10
Other education7.9+1.2
Employment9.9+2.2
Not in a lasting destination14.9+4.3
Activity not captured4+2.1

Ofsted

Holyhead School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 4 February 2020, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in May 2025 found: Standards maintained.

Outcome
Standards maintained
Inspected
20 May 2025
Ungraded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2020

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Feb 2020Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Dec 2013Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Jul 2009Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

87% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (30 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
87%
Replies
30
2% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school●90% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲94% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved●83% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations●86% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▲90% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼73% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing●86% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●93% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲94% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development●77% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲86% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 73% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲73% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 37% who had a child bullied

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