Birchensale Middle School, Redditch

In its own words: "Every student leaves Birchensale with the skills, motivation and personal qualities to enable lifelong success. The vision of our school is embodied in the words Belong, Motivate, Succeed, Resilient . We strive to ensure that everyone feels they belong in our school community; happy, valued and respected."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Birchensale is a school with a strong reputation, a caring ethos, and a commitment to helping every child thrive. I am proud to lead a community where high expectations, kindness, inclusivity, and ambition go hand in hand."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 5:00pm.

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Birchensale Middle School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Worcestershire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (60% in reading, 57% in maths).

Across Worcestershire, 88% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 96% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Worcestershire lodged 180 appeals against secondary school offers; 134 reached a hearing and 36 succeeded (26.9% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Birchensale Middle School are Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.2); St Bede's Catholic Middle School (1.2 miles, Good); Walkwood Church of England Middle School (1.4 miles, Good); and Woodfield Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement).

Birchensale Middle School is one of 4 schools run by Bordesley Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

83 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Birchensale Middle School (as of September 2025): 54% would recommend the school, 60% say their child is happy there and 45% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (74%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (45%).

38.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 26.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (64%), Asian (18%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 117 pupils (22.4%) received SEN support and 19 (3.6%) 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 Redditch Rail Station, about 590 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

22 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cedar Road Social Club (opposite), 100 metres away.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 325 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Worcestershire (78), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Birchensale Middle School issued 83 suspensions, 15.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Birchensale Middle School are Holyoakes Field First School (0.2 miles), Batchley First and Nursery School (0.4 miles), St Luke's CofE First School (0.9 miles) and St Stephen's CofE First School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.