Grove School, Birmingham
Grove School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Birmingham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 218th-highest of the 275 schools in Birmingham with published results, and 10,901st of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Birmingham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Grove School in detail
Grove School in its own words
In its own words: "The governing body of Grove School applies the regulations on admissions fairly and equally to all those who wish to attend this school. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 introduced a new framework for school admissions as of September 2000."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am proud and feel immensely privileged to be the Head Teacher of Grove School . Grove is a very special place to work, having been in post for 23 years as the Deputy Head Teacher I know and understand our community extremely well."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Grove School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Birmingham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 73% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Grove School
For September 2026 entry, 57 families put Grove School as their first choice and 128 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Grove School are William Murdoch Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 78% reading, 86% maths); Oasis Academy Boulton (0.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 81% maths); Rookery School (0.4 miles, Good, 61% reading, 68% maths); and James Watt Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 71% reading, 66% maths).
Grove School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
William Murdoch Primary SchoolOasis Academy BoultonRookery SchoolJames Watt Primary School
Who goes there
54.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 56.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (59%), Mixed (21%) and other ethnic groups (9%).
In 2026, 148 pupils (24.4%) received SEN support and 5 (0.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Winson Green (West Midlands Metro), about 820 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Osborne Road (opposite), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Grove School 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 743 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson 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
In 2024/25, Grove School issued 21 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Grove School are King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys (under 0.1 miles), King Edward VI Handsworth School (0.5 miles), Holyhead School (0.6 miles) and King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy (0.6 miles).
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for BoysKing Edward VI Handsworth SchoolHolyhead SchoolKing Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from September 2014, 12 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
From Ofsted's October 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Grove School is a genuinely happy place where children arrive with smiles on their faces and are greeted warmly in return. The school excels at teaching reading using phonics, with quick identification of pupils who need extra support and targeted help to catch up. All pupils, especially those with SEND, are supported to achieve their very best through staff who know their needs exceptionally well.
Key Strengths
- Excellent phonics teaching and reading support with targeted interventions for pupils needing extra help
- Impressive approach to supporting pupils with SEND through quick identification and precise target-setting
- Strong early years provision with well-planned activities and outdoor learning spaces
- Positive school culture focused on kindness, respect, and developing responsible citizens
- Wide range of enrichment activities and clubs alongside trips and residential experiences
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment approaches in some subjects do not yet match the precise methods used in reading, writing and mathematics, sometimes preventing staff from identifying learning gaps and building knowledge securely
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils having a secure understanding of how to keep safe including online and in their local community.
Extracurricular Activities
Chess, arts club, bhangra dancing, djembe drumming, school council, attendance ambassadors, digital leaders, peer mediators, pet ambassador responsibilities, trips and residential experiences
Grove School continues to be a good school, described as a happy place where pupils feel exceptionally safe and well cared for. The school has immaculately kept buildings and stunning grounds, with staff committed to helping all pupils, including those with SEND, achieve their best.
At a Glance
54.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 73% to 64% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.5
Avg class size
23.9
Infant (KS1)
28.5
KS2
19
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Grove School
From Grove School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Grove School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Grove School.
- Seven Up Play720m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Grove School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Birmingham. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Grove School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Grove School 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
- 108
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 22
- Children hurt
- 19
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 108 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 22 serious and 85 slight.
19 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 11 on foot and 8 in a vehicle or otherwise.
24 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
Your chances of a place at Grove School
Will you get a place at Grove School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Grove School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Grove School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Grove School.
- Birmingham publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Grove School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Grove School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Birmingham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
600 pupils
630 places
30 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Birmingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Birmingham
Across Birmingham council
Places available
15,375
Applications
12,117
Got 1st preference
92.1%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Birmingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
148
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
25.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
606
Total Pupils
323
Boys
283
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
33
Teachers
18.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,942
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,064
Per pupil
£4313k
Total funding
£489k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.2%
Overall absence
17.6%
Persistent absence
552
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Grove School
What are SATs results like at Grove School?
Of the pupils at Grove School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Grove School's Ofsted rating?
Grove School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Grove School?
No fixed boundary. When Grove School is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Grove School?
Grove School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Grove School?
Classes at Grove School average 24.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Grove School?
Grove School has around 606 pupils on roll. 55% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Grove School?
6.2% of sessions were missed at Grove School in 2024/25. 17.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Grove School?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Grove School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Grove School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Grove School: Seven Up Play (720m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Grove School's term dates?
Grove School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Birmingham. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Grove School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 108 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 22 serious and 85 slight. 19 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 11 on foot and 8 in a vehicle or otherwise. 24 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 Grove School?
Grove School is at Dawson Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B21 9HB.
Sources: Birmingham term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)