Aspire AP School 2, Smethwick
Aspire AP School 2 is an independent school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Smethwick. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Aspire AP School 2 in detail
Aspire AP School 2 in its own words
In its own words: "Aspire AP Schools are a family of two Alternative Provision Independent Schools, initially established in partnership with award winning charity Transforming Lives for Good. We believe that every young person should know that they are precious, distinctive and gifted and that they are capable of flourishing, both now and in the future."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Aspire AP School 2 are Oscott Academy (1 mile, Outstanding); Imedia School (2.3 miles, Good); Highclare School (2.4 miles); and Birchfield Independent Girls' School (2.8 miles).
Oscott AcademyImedia SchoolHighclare SchoolBirchfield Independent Girls' School
Who goes there
In 2026, 5 pupils (71.4%) received SEN support and 2 (28.6%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hamstead Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rushden Croft (after), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Aspire AP School 2 stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school truly transforms pupils' lives by helping them re-engage with education after difficult experiences. Staff create a warm, caring environment where pupils feel understood and valued, leading to improved attendance and behaviour. The school is particularly effective at supporting pupils with additional needs and building their confidence to try hard and succeed.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on addressing gaps in literacy and maths for pupils joining after time out of education
- Excellent care, nurture and sense of belonging with daily shared meals helping pupils feel part of the community
- Effective support for pupils with SEND through quick identification and tailored help including rest breaks
- Skilled staff who build strong relationships and prevent behaviour issues before they happen
- Impressive work with parents to overcome attendance barriers, resulting in significantly improved attendance
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum in some subjects lacks clear guidance on what precise knowledge and skills pupils should learn and when, leaving staff uncertain what to teach
- Staff sometimes miss when pupils are ready to move on to new learning, meaning some pupils don't reach their potential
- No systematic phonics programme for pupils in very early stages of reading development
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor activities, careers advice and guidance
Aspire AP School 2 is a small independent school that helps pupils who have been out of education for long periods or excluded from mainstream schools re-engage in learning. The school is rated Good overall and creates a caring, nurturing environment where pupils improve their attendance and behaviour significantly.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Aspire AP School 2
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sandwell is 26.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
47%
Available places
7 pupils
15 places
8 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Smethwick
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Smethwick
Across Sandwell council
Places available
5,146
Applications
4,404
Got 1st preference
80.8%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All secondary applications across Sandwell council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
7
Total Pupils
3
Boys
4
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Aspire AP School 2
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Aspire AP School 2
What is Aspire AP School 2's Ofsted rating?
Aspire AP School 2 was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024.
Does Aspire AP School 2 meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in December 2024, Aspire AP School 2 met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Aspire AP School 2?
Aspire AP School 2 has around 7 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Aspire AP School 2?
Aspire AP School 2 is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Aspire AP School 2?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sandwell is 26.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Aspire AP School 2?
Aspire AP School 2 is at 70 Raglan Road, Smethwick, B66 3ND.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)