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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Needs attentionURN 143895

Smith's Wood Academy

Academy sponsor led · Birmingham · B36 0UE

Ages 11–16 · 697 pupils · Solihull

School website

Ofsted

Needs attention

Attainment 8

30.0

Overall absence

14.7%

Admissions demand

0.69 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Needs attention

Inspection date

2026-01-13

Category of concern

Special measures

  • AchievementNeeds attention
  • Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-1.52
−20+2
Attainment 830.0
English & maths grade 5+17%
English & maths grade 4+42%
EBacc entry32%

EBacc APS: 2.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence14.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)45.5%
Unauthorised7.9%
Authorised absence
6.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
10.1%
Enrolments in measure
852

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

0.69 · Often has places

1st preferences

61

Places offered

186

1st-preference offers

60

Total preferences (any rank)
236
Preferred offers (top 3)
94
Applications from outside LA
135
Offers to outside-LA applicants
45
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

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 fill70%

697 pupils · 1,000 places

Pupils on roll
697
Boys / girls
332 / 365
School capacity
1,000
Capacity fill
697 / 1,000 (70%)
Free school meals
65.4%
FSM pupils
456
Admissions policy
Non-selective
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

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: FAIRFAX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
FAIRFAX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Fairfax
Headteacher
Mr Stephen Huntington

Location

Address
Windward Way, Smith's Wood
Postcode
B36 0UE
Town
Birmingham
County
West Midlands
Local authority
Solihull
District
Solihull
Constituency
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
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, Solihull, 697 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 65.4%.

Open schools in Birmingham
526
Secondary schools in Birmingham
86
Academies among open schools in Birmingham
48% (254)
Open schools in B36
18
Secondary in B36
4
Open schools in Solihull LA
90
Secondary in Solihull LA
15

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 B36

  • Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B37 6NU · Solihull

    Ages 11–18

    • Att834.4
    • P8-1.3
    • EM5+26%
    • Absence14.6%

    0.9 miles away

  • John Henry Newman Catholic College

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B37 5GA · Solihull

    Ages 11–18

    • Att847.1
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+45%
    • Absence9.4%

    1.0 miles away

  • Park Hall Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B36 9HF · Solihull

    Ages 11–18

    • Att844.9
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence10.1%

    1.2 miles away

  • Tile Cross Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B33 9UF · Birmingham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att838.1
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+33%
    • Absence10.8%

    1.5 miles away

  • Grace Academy Solihull

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B37 5JS · Solihull

    Ages 11–18

    • Att843.9
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+45%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.7 miles away

  • The Coleshill School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Birmingham · B46 3EX · Warwickshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att841.3
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+38%
    • Absence9.3%

    1.9 miles away

  • Lift Greenwood

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Birmingham · B35 7NL · Birmingham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att835.8
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+34%
    • Absence13.0%

    2.2 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Stephen Huntington
Telephone
01217884100
Website
http://smithswood.co.uk/

Official links