Highfields School, Wolverhampton

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Highfields School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils enjoy attending the school."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders articulate an ambitious, inclusive vision."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership is effective and cohesive."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's ambition to extend pupils' learning beyond the classroom is clear."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Students enjoy sixth form life."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching, including aspects of the personal development programme, consistently deepens pupils' knowledge and understanding, with teachers addressing any misconceptions, as necessary"; "Leaders should ensure that changes to improve identified areas of the school's work are implemented by all staff consistently well and swiftly".

In its own words: "At Highfields, we firmly believe that the academic success and personal development of our students are of equal importance. We aim to fulfil our role as educators by focusing on developing the knowledge, skills and qualities essential to lead a successful, full and happy life."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher of Highfields School. Our school is a welcoming, friendly and inclusive place where every child matters. For us, every child is unique. We celebrate each student’s individuality and nurture their interests, skills and talents so they can flourish. Highfields is a highly successful school."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include robotics, STEM, film and book club.

In 2026, pupils at Highfields School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Wolverhampton and 47 across England.

56% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Wolverhampton and 47% in England.

That is down from 51.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.3: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 38.3, against 55.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 30 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Social Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 346 families put Highfields School as their first choice and 825 named it as one of their preferences, for 271 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 96 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Highfields School are Smestow Academy (1.1 miles, Attainment 8 48.6); St Peter's Collegiate Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.2); The Royal School, Wolverhampton (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.7); and Colton Hills Community School (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.5).

Highfields School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Highfields School is one of 6 schools run by Lykos Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

137 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Highfields School (as of April 2026): 93% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

Of the 273 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 144 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 60% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 12% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Wolverhampton St George's (West Midlands Metro), about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highfields School (adjacent), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 93 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Wolverhampton (286).

In 2024/25, Highfields School issued 54 suspensions, 3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Highfields School are Springdale Primary School (0.4 miles), St Michael's Catholic Primary Academy and Nursery (0.6 miles), Warstones Primary School (0.6 miles) and Bhylls Acre Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.