King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy, Birmingham

In its own words: "A school based on the highest aspirations and expectations, characterised by evidence based teaching and learning leading to the best outcomes for all pupils both academically and socially. Staff are valued, challenged and supported - part of the learning community where they drive their own professional development."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am incredibly proud and excited to have taken up the role of Headteacher at King Edward VI Balaam Wood from September 2026. It is a school with a genuine feel‑good factor, a place where staff show a real passion for making a difference, where success is celebrated, and where pupils learn in a safe, supportive environment."

In 2026, pupils at King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.5 in Birmingham and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Birmingham and 47% in England.

That is down from 41.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.48: pupils made below 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 37.3, against 43.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 16 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Art and Design, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 100 families put King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy as their first choice and 300 named it as one of their preferences, for 87 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 20 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy are Colmers School and Sixth Form College (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.1); Waseley Hills High School (1 mile, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.7); Turves Green Boys' School (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.8); and King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls (2.1 miles, Attainment 8 45.3).

King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy is one of 12 schools run by King Edward Vi Academy Trust Birmingham, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 64.1 in 2024/25.

Of the 76 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 78% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

66.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 124 pupils (29.3%) received SEN support and 22 (5.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Longbridge Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Arden Walk (opposite), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 198 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Birmingham (435).

In 2024/25, King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy issued 85 suspensions, 20.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy are Holly Hill Methodist CofE Infant School (under 0.1 miles), Reaside Academy (0.4 miles), Forestdale Primary School (0.6 miles) and Colmers Farm Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.