Calthorpe Academy, Birmingham
Calthorpe Academy is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Birmingham, part of Thrive Education Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Calthorpe Academy in detail
Calthorpe Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Calthorpe Academy is committed to providing a learning journey that develops the 'skills for the life our pupils want'. The vision of Calthorpe Academy is to provide exceptional education and life opportunities to all of our children and young people. We will ensure that our curriculum is diverse, personalised and enriched to meet the very individual needs of our learners."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Calthorpe Academy are Futures Matter - Northwood (0.2 miles); R.Y.A.N Education Academy (0.4 miles, Good); St Paul's School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, selective); and New Perspectives School (0.8 miles, Good).
Futures Matter - NorthwoodR.Y.A.N Education AcademySt Paul's SchoolNew Perspectives School
The trust
Calthorpe Academy is one of 7 schools run by Thrive Education Partnership, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 41 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 98% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 5% to a further education college.
Who goes there
71.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 28.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (51%), Black (20%) and White British (10%).
Almost every pupil at Calthorpe Academy has an education, health and care plan (461 of 461 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Calthorpe Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bordesley Rail Station, about 620 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stratford Place (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Calthorpe Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 1256 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Birmingham (435), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Calthorpe Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from November 2017, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2017 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
71.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Calthorpe Academy
Our Special Angels are back at Calthorpe Academy this October half-term!
29 Sep 2026
Calthorpe Academy Achieves Birmingham SEND Silver Co-production Award
14 Sep 2026
A Fond Farewell to Our 2026 Leavers
15 Jul 2026
Calthorpe Summer Carnival 2026
14 Jul 2026
Calthorpe Academy Football Team
17 Jun 2026
Feelings Flower Competition for Mental Health Awareness Week
21 May 2026
From Calthorpe Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Calthorpe Academy
Before and after school care
Calthorpe Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Birmingham
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Calthorpe Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Calthorpe Academy 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
- 97
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 97 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 12 serious and 84 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 8 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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
102%
Over capacity
461 pupils
450 places
11 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
461
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Calthorpe Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
461
Total Pupils
328
Boys
133
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
63
Teachers
7.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,922
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.0%
Overall absence
40.0%
Persistent absence
320
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
Calthorpe Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Calthorpe Academy
What are SATs results like at Calthorpe Academy?
Of the pupils at Calthorpe Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Calthorpe Academy's Ofsted rating?
Calthorpe Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Calthorpe Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Calthorpe Academy is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Calthorpe Academy?
Calthorpe Academy has around 461 pupils on roll. 71% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Calthorpe Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Calthorpe Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Calthorpe Academy?
14% of sessions were missed at Calthorpe Academy in 2024/25. 40% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Calthorpe Academy?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Calthorpe Academy 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.
Does Calthorpe Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Calthorpe Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Calthorpe Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 97 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 12 serious and 84 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 8 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 Calthorpe Academy?
Calthorpe Academy is at Darwin Street, Highgate, Birmingham, West Midlands, B12 0TP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)