Heart of Birmingham Vocational College, Birmingham
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Birmingham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2023.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College in detail
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College in its own words
In its own words: "We offer personalised learning programmes for learners aged 16-25 who have moderate to severe learning difficulties and/or autism. At Heart of Birmingham Vocational College you will be encouraged to reach a level of independence that is right for you and the direction you want your life to take."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Heart of Birmingham Vocational College are Braidwood School for the Deaf (0.4 miles, Good); Beaufort School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); Queensbury School (1.1 miles, Good); and Beaufort School (1.1 miles).
Braidwood School for the DeafBeaufort SchoolQueensbury SchoolBeaufort School
Who goes there
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gravelly Hill Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Bromford (opposite), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Heart of Birmingham Vocational College stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Heart of Birmingham Vocational College
Volunteer Governors/Trustees Wanted
1 Jun 2026
Residential Trip Off to a Great Start
12 May 2026
HBVC Move to REDI Centre
30 Apr 2026
SEND Provision is expanding in Redditch
25 Mar 2026
Star of the Week!
27 Feb 2026
FREE Taster Sessions at Redditch!
25 Feb 2026
From Heart of Birmingham Vocational College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Heart of Birmingham Vocational College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Heart of Birmingham Vocational College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Heart of Birmingham Vocational College 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
- 68
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 12
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 68 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 59 slight.
12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 9 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
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(3)
Special educational needs provision
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Heart of Birmingham Vocational College
What is Heart of Birmingham Vocational College's Ofsted rating?
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023.
What is the catchment area for Heart of Birmingham Vocational College?
No fixed boundary. When Heart of Birmingham Vocational College is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Heart of Birmingham Vocational College have specialist SEN provision?
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Heart of Birmingham Vocational College?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Heart of Birmingham Vocational College 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 Heart of Birmingham Vocational College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 68 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 59 slight. 12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 9 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 Heart of Birmingham Vocational College?
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College is at 328 - 332 Bromford Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands, B8 2SD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)