Barr Beacon School, Walsall

In its own words: "Barr Beacon Values were created by our pupils for our pupils. These are the values that underpin what it means not just to be a successful pupil but also a successful citizen in modern Britain. These values represent characteristics which enable our pupils to be compassionate, community-minded individuals who contribute positively to our society, now and in the future."

In 2026, pupils at Barr Beacon School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.9 in Walsall and 47 across England.

57% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Walsall and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 51.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.19: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 43.2, against 52.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 333 families put Barr Beacon School as their first choice and 1205 named it as one of their preferences, for 264 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 107 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Barr Beacon School are Fortis Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.4); Q3 Academy Great Barr (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.1); Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48); and The Streetly Academy (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.9).

Barr Beacon School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Barr Beacon School is one of 9 schools run by Matrix Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44 in 2024/25.

Of the 258 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 122 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 64% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 20% into work. 12% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (48%), Asian (34%) and Black (8%).

In 2026, 180 pupils (12.3%) received SEN support and 28 (1.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Hamstead Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barr Beacon School (on), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Barr Beacon School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 64 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Walsall (297).

In 2024/25, Barr Beacon School issued 189 suspensions, 12.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Barr Beacon School are Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Early Years Centre (0.4 miles), Meadow View Academy (0.6 miles), Sundridge Primary School (0.9 miles) and St Margaret's CofE Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.