Mander Portman Woodward Independent College, Birmingham
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College is an independent school for pupils aged 14 to 19 in Birmingham. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Mander Portman Woodward Independent College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Mander Portman Woodward Independent College are St George's School Edgbaston (0.1 miles, selective); Hallfield School (0.3 miles, selective); Edgbaston High School for Girls (0.4 miles, selective); and West House School (0.4 miles).
St George's School EdgbastonHallfield SchoolEdgbaston High School for GirlsWest House School
Where pupils go next
Of the 62 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 63% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 2% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 71 pupils (49.3%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Edgbaston Village (West Midlands Metro), about 270 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highfield Road (opposite), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Mander Portman Woodward Independent College stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 662 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Birmingham (435), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); 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
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. Ofsted last inspected this school in 27 February 2018, before the latest ISI inspection.
View full ISI report pageOfsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2018 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at providing individualised attention and support to each pupil, enabling them to make excellent progress regardless of their starting point. Teachers are highly knowledgeable and dedicated, and the school creates a safe, happy environment where pupils feel valued and supported. The strong leadership and governance ensure consistent excellence across all aspects of school life.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional leadership and management with a strong focus on academic excellence and individual pupil support
- Outstanding teaching quality with small group sizes enabling highly individualised learning
- Rapid pupil progress from varied starting points, including those with special educational needs
- Exemplary behaviour and extremely positive attitudes to learning throughout the school
- Highly effective safeguarding procedures and strong pastoral care
Areas for Improvement
- Ensure all pupils have broader knowledge of education and work opportunities beyond university, including apprenticeships and alternative pathways
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with strong arrangements, well-trained vigilant staff, a highly effective designated lead, and comprehensive annual training on topics including child exploitation, e-safety and radicalisation.
Extracurricular Activities
Debating society, charity events, sports at nearby university, school council, national model United Nations challenge
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College is an outstanding school with exceptional leadership and teaching that has maintained its excellence across all areas. The school provides a safe, supportive environment where pupils make rapid progress and develop into confident, successful learners.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Mander Portman Woodward Independent College
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 88
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 11 serious and 76 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise.
19 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
55%
Available places
144 pupils
260 places
116 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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
71
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
49.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
144
Total Pupils
80
Boys
64
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Mander Portman Woodward Independent College
What are GCSE results like at Mander Portman Woodward Independent College?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Mander Portman Woodward Independent College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Mander Portman Woodward Independent College last inspected?
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2025.
How many pupils go to Mander Portman Woodward Independent College?
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College has around 144 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Mander Portman Woodward Independent College?
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Mander Portman Woodward Independent College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 11 serious and 76 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise. 19 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 Mander Portman Woodward Independent College?
Mander Portman Woodward Independent College is at 16 - 18 Greenfield Crescent, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 3AU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)