Holyhead School, Birmingham

In its own words: "Holyhead is a forward looking, energetic school where our staff want to be the very best we can in our roles to support the young people whose futures we are fortunate to be entrusted with. Decision making is informed by evidence and research, and is rooted in integrity."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Holyhead Sixth Form is a well established and very successful school Sixth Form, with a keen focus on pastoral care. We welcome students new and old to join us in Year 12, providing high quality teaching as well as plenty of opportunities beyond the classroom."

In 2026, pupils at Holyhead School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.5 in Birmingham and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Birmingham and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 43.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.04: pupils made about 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 42, against 46.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Religious Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 205 families put Holyhead School as their first choice and 711 named it as one of their preferences, for 209 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Holyhead School are Windsor Olympus Academy (0.5 miles); King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys (0.6 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 71.3); St John Wall Catholic School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.2); and Sandwell Academy (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Holyhead School.

Holyhead School is one of 14 schools run by Central Region Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.8 in 2024/25.

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Holyhead School (as of September 2025): 87% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 89% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (93%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (77%).

Of the 206 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college.

Of the 101 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 62% went on to university or other higher education and 10% into work. 13% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

62.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 74.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (59%), Black (19%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 334 pupils (26.6%) received SEN support and 5 (0.4%) 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.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Handsworth Booth Street (West Midlands Metro), about 440 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holyhead Way (opposite), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holyhead School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Holyhead School issued 159 suspensions, 12.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Holyhead School are St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth (0.2 miles); Oasis Academy Boulton (0.4 miles); Oasis Academy Wattville (0.5 miles); and James Watt Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.