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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 145580

Arena Academy

Academy sponsor led · Birmingham · B42 2PY

Ages 11–16 · 969 pupils · Birmingham

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

41.7

Overall absence

8.7%

Admissions demand

0.91 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2024-11-12

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.36
−20+2
Attainment 841.7
English & maths grade 5+36%
English & maths grade 4+57%
EBacc entry10%

EBacc APS: 3.6

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)25.1%
Unauthorised5.0%
Authorised absence
3.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.5%
Enrolments in measure
1,165

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.91 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

143

Places offered

178

1st-preference offers

127

Total preferences (any rank)
492
Preferred offers (top 3)
178
Applications from outside LA
21
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill108%

969 pupils · 900 places

Pupils on roll
969
Boys / girls
494 / 475
School capacity
900
Capacity fill
969 / 900 (108%)
Free school meals
41.5%
FSM pupils
402
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: CORE EDUCATION TRUST
Academy trust
CORE EDUCATION TRUST
Sponsor
Core Education Trust
Headteacher
Mr Raj Mann

Location

Address
Beeches Road, Great Barr
Postcode
B42 2PY
Town
Birmingham
County
West Midlands
Local authority
Birmingham
District
Birmingham
Constituency
Birmingham Erdington
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Birmingham, Birmingham, 969 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy. Free school meals: 41.5%.

Open schools in Birmingham
526
Secondary schools in Birmingham
86
Academies among open schools in Birmingham
48% (254)
Open schools in B42
10
Secondary in B42
3
Open schools in Birmingham LA
521
Secondary in Birmingham LA
82

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BirminghamNear B42

  • Fortis Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Birmingham · B44 8NU · Birmingham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att839.7
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+29%
    • Absence11.6%

    0.4 miles away

  • Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Birmingham · B44 9SR · Birmingham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att846.9
    • P80.3
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence9.0%

    1.0 miles away

  • E-ACT North Birmingham Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B44 0HF · Birmingham

    Ages 11–19

    • Att840.7
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence5.1%

    1.3 miles away

  • Prince Albert High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Birmingham · B42 2TU · Birmingham

    Ages 11–18

    • Absence9.5%
    • FSM43.3%
    • Demand1.03

    1.5 miles away

  • Barr Beacon School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Walsall · WS9 0RF · Walsall

    Ages 11–18

    • Att850.4
    • P80.2
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence7.5%

    1.5 miles away

  • Hamstead Hall Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Birmingham · B20 1HL · Birmingham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att841.7
    • P80.1
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence8.2%

    1.6 miles away

  • Eden Boys' School, Birmingham

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Free schools · Secondary

    Birmingham · B42 2SY · Birmingham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att863.7
    • P81.6
    • EM5+82%
    • Absence2.8%

    1.6 miles away

  • Q3 Academy Great Barr

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B43 7SD · Sandwell

    Ages 11–19

    • Att844.5
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence7.5%

    1.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Raj Mann
Telephone
01217297310
Website
https://corearena.academy

Official links