Braidwood School for the Deaf, Birmingham
Braidwood School for the Deaf is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Birmingham, part of Mainland Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Braidwood School for the Deaf in detail
Braidwood School for the Deaf in its own words
In its own words: "Essentially, we are a small and friendly school that places positive mental health and wellbeing at the forefront of all we do. Our school has a long history and tradition. We bring that history, together with the flexibility of modern teaching and learning approaches, and technology, to deliver a valuable and enjoyable school life for all."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Braidwood School for the Deaf are Heart of Birmingham Vocational College (0.4 miles, Good); Beaufort School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); Beaufort School (0.8 miles); and Queensbury School (1.4 miles, Good).
Heart of Birmingham Vocational CollegeBeaufort SchoolBeaufort SchoolQueensbury School
The trust
Braidwood School for the Deaf is run by its own single-school academy trust.
What parents say
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Braidwood School for the Deaf (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (86%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 7% to a further education college.
Who goes there
75.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 82.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (34%), White British (23%) and Black (18%).
Almost every pupil at Braidwood School for the Deaf has an education, health and care plan (82 of 82 in 2026). The most common need among them is hearing impairment.
Braidwood School for the Deaf provides for pupils with hearing impairment.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stechford Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hodge Hill School (on), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Braidwood School for the Deaf stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Braidwood School for the Deaf issued 8 suspensions, 8.7 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Braidwood School creates an inspirational community where deaf pupils thrive. Staff have very high expectations and know each pupil exceptionally well, providing swift support tailored to individual needs. The school's work experience and careers guidance is outstanding, surrounding pupils with deaf role models from diverse professions to show them what's possible for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional focus on mental health and well-being, helping pupils regulate emotions and attend well to learning
- Ambitious, carefully planned curriculum that builds knowledge from Year 7 through sixth form
- Outstanding careers education with deaf role models inspiring pupils to see possibilities in any profession
- Strong understanding of individual pupil needs and talents, with well-coordinated support including counselling and physiotherapy
- Sixth form pupils develop excellent work experience and interaction skills with hearing communities
Areas for Improvement
- Not all pupils have regular enough opportunities to talk and sign at length about their learning, limiting their development as independent thinkers
- Younger pupils lack consistent opportunities to interact with the hearing community and practise real-life skills outside school
- Some staff members feel they don't always receive the information they need from colleagues to fulfil their roles effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that prioritizes pupil welfare.
Extracurricular Activities
School band, art enrichment, work experience, Birmingham Repertory Theatre performances
Braidwood School for the Deaf is an inspirational community that has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. The school prioritizes British Sign Language communication, ambition, and care to help deaf pupils become skilled learners and active members of their community.
At a Glance
75.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Hearing
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
14 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Braidwood School for the Deaf
Open Days October 2026
30 Sep 2026
Open Days
20 May 2026
Fundraising for Priestley Smith
7 May 2026
Newsletter Spring Term 2026
7 May 2026
Deaffest Clapperboard Challenge 2026
7 May 2026
Craftspace celebrates 40 years
13 Mar 2026
From Braidwood School for the Deaf's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Braidwood School for the Deaf
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Braidwood School for the Deaf from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Braidwood School for the Deaf is in Birmingham; for families living there:
- How to apply: Travel passes for 5 to 16 year olds
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 6
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, 1 serious and 21 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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 Birmingham is 41 (the median across 517 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
108%
Over capacity
82 pupils
76 places
6 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Birmingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Birmingham
Across Birmingham council
Places available
14,956
Applications
14,483
Got 1st preference
75.7%
Got preferred school
97.4%
All secondary applications across Birmingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
82
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Braidwood School for the Deaf provides for pupils with hearing impairment.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
82
Total Pupils
50
Boys
32
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
4.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,909
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.6%
Overall absence
33.8%
Persistent absence
74
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Braidwood School for the Deaf
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Braidwood School for the Deaf
What are GCSE results like at Braidwood School for the Deaf?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Braidwood School for the Deaf achieved an Attainment 8 score of 10.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Braidwood School for the Deaf's Ofsted rating?
Braidwood School for the Deaf's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Braidwood School for the Deaf?
No fixed boundary. When Braidwood School for the Deaf is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Braidwood School for the Deaf?
Braidwood School for the Deaf has around 82 pupils on roll. 76% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Braidwood School for the Deaf have specialist SEN provision?
Braidwood School for the Deaf provides for pupils with hearing impairment.
What is attendance like at Braidwood School for the Deaf?
11.6% of sessions were missed at Braidwood School for the Deaf in 2024/25. 33.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Braidwood School for the Deaf?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Braidwood School for the Deaf on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Braidwood School for the Deaf?
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, 1 serious and 21 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 Birmingham is 41 (the median across 517 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Braidwood School for the Deaf?
Braidwood School for the Deaf is at Bromford Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B36 8AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)