Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children, Birmingham
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 12 in Birmingham, part of Birmingham Special Schools Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children are Victoria College (under 0.1 miles, Good); Victoria School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Maple House School (1.7 miles, Good); and Penny Tree School (1.8 miles).
Victoria CollegeVictoria SchoolMaple House SchoolPenny Tree School
The trust
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children is one of 6 schools run by Birmingham Special Schools Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
64.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 100% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Mixed (19%) and Black (17%).
Almost every pupil at Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children has an education, health and care plan (53 of 53 in 2026). The most common need among them is hearing impairment.
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children provides for pupils with hearing impairment.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Northfield Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Saxon Wood Close, 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children issued 1 suspension, 1.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school celebrates being deaf as something to be proud of, with inspirational staff who help every pupil believe they can achieve anything. From the moment children arrive, they develop confidence in British Sign Language and receive highly skilled support tailored to their individual needs. The school combines excellent teaching across all subjects with enriching experiences like forest school, residentials, and community projects that build resilience and prepare children for life beyond school.
Key Strengths
- Teaching British Sign Language from day one, with most pupils leaving with BSL qualifications
- Exemplary behaviour and a calm, purposeful school environment where staff act swiftly to address any concerns
- Innovative 'Visual Phonics by Hand' reading approach tailored for deaf children, helping pupils quickly learn to read
- Comprehensive curriculum that builds knowledge over time, with equally high expectations across all subjects
- Strong focus on deaf studies, community awareness, and developing pupils' independence and life skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff well-trained on risks deaf children may encounter and swift action taken when concerns arise, supported by 'Helping Hands' to teach pupils five people to ask for help.
Extracurricular Activities
Chess club, Eco-warriors club, STEAM club, Forest school, Nurture groups, Garden festivals, Trips and residentials, smILE project (community-based skills practice)
Longwill Primary School for Deaf Children is an outstanding school where deaf pupils thrive with pride and confidence. The school systematically breaks down barriers to learning and provides inspirational support from both deaf and hearing staff.
At a Glance
64.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Hearing
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Maths has declined from 10% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children 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
- 39
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 10 serious and 28 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 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
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
53
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children provides for pupils with hearing impairment.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
53
Total Pupils
31
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,915
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.3%
Overall absence
17.4%
Persistent absence
46
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children
Questions parents ask about Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children
What are SATs results like at Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
Of the pupils at Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children's Ofsted rating?
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2014 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
No fixed boundary. When Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children has around 53 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children have specialist SEN provision?
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children provides for pupils with hearing impairment.
What is attendance like at Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
7.3% of sessions were missed at Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children in 2024/25. 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children 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 Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 10 serious and 28 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 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 Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children?
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children is at Bell Hill, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 1LD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)