James Brindley School, Birmingham
James Brindley School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Birmingham, part of Think Differently Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
James Brindley School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to James Brindley School are Hopwood Hall School (0.7 miles); Futures Matter - Northwood (0.9 miles); New Perspectives School (0.9 miles, Good); and Calthorpe Academy (1 mile, Good).
Hopwood Hall SchoolFutures Matter - NorthwoodNew Perspectives SchoolCalthorpe Academy
The trust
James Brindley School is one of 2 schools run by Think Differently Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 44 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 46% to a further education college.
Who goes there
44.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%), Mixed (15%) and Asian (7%).
In 2026, 13 pupils (12.5%) received SEN support and 91 (87.5%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Five Ways Rail Station, about 460 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lee Crescent (adjacent), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1534 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. 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, James Brindley School issued 39 suspensions, 32.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from January 2017, 9 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
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2017 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
44.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with James Brindley School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to James Brindley School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. James Brindley 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
- 123
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 24
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 123 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 24 serious and 99 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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
School Occupancy
19%
Available places
104 pupils
557 places
453 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
91
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
104
Total Pupils
70
Boys
34
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
87
Teachers
1.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,713
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
31.1%
Overall absence
74.8%
Persistent absence
381
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
James Brindley School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about James Brindley School
What is James Brindley School's Ofsted rating?
James Brindley School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for James Brindley School?
No fixed boundary. When James Brindley School is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to James Brindley School?
James Brindley School has around 104 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at James Brindley School?
31.1% of sessions were missed at James Brindley School in 2024/25. 74.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to James Brindley School?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming James Brindley School 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 James Brindley School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 123 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 24 serious and 99 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 James Brindley School?
James Brindley School is at Bell Barn Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)