Holyhead Primary Academy, Wednesbury

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Holyhead Primary Academy on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically make steady progress as they move through the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance is broadly in line with national averages and shows a steady improvement over time."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a secure and positive start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders place inclusion at the centre of their work."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance work collaboratively and share a clear and ambitious vision for the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a coherent and carefully planned personal development programme that supports pupils to become confident, considerate and responsible individuals."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders' vision for what pupils learn across the curriculum is not fully implemented."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff identify and address pupils' knowledge gaps and misconceptions routinely and swiftly so that errors are not repeated and pupils can progress through the curriculum unimpeded"; "Leaders should ensure that the school's approach to teaching reading, handwriting and spelling are implemented effectively and enable pupils to quickly secure the foundational knowledge and skills that they need for future success".

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Holyhead Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 75% in Sandwell and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (71% in reading, 81% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Holyhead Primary Academy as their first choice and 57 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Holyhead Primary Academy are St Mary's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, 86% reading, 59% maths); Old Park Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 73% reading, 78% maths); St John's Church of England Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 87% maths); and Wood Green Junior School (0.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 74% maths).

Holyhead Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Holyhead Primary Academy is one of 12 schools run by Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

38.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 25.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Asian (24%) and Mixed (20%).

The nearest tram or metro stop is Wednesbury Parkway (West Midlands Metro), about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Meeting Street (opposite), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holyhead Primary Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Holyhead Primary Academy issued 4 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Holyhead Primary Academy are Gospel Oak School (0.9 miles), Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School (1.2 miles) and Grace Academy Darlaston (1.2 miles).