Ormiston SWB Academy, Bilston

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Ormiston SWB Academy on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders work tirelessly to ensure that all pupils attend well."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress well across the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a well-planned and sequenced curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a highly inclusive culture in the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are determined."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed the 'CORE' (character, opportunity, resilience and excellence) curriculum to underpin the school's personal development programme."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs and aspirations of students."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to refine teaching, including approaches to assessment, so that all pupils can continue to deepen their knowledge and understanding as they move through the curriculum"; "Leaders should make sure that barriers to pupils' learning and/or wellbeing are identified precisely enough so that teachers can use this information to inform their teaching more effectively".

In its own words: "Ormiston SWB Academy students are expected to demonstrate a vast array of characteristics that will prepare them for future success. Our values clearly signal to staff, students and parents the CORE values of Character, Organisation, Resilience and Excellence which ensure our Academy is a focused, happy and a safe place to learn and achieve."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is an exciting time for Ormiston SWB Academy. For the first time in our history, we have been recognised as a ‘Good’ provider by Ofsted and our inclusive, over-subscribed school aims to progress further. At SWB, we value manners, kindness and celebrate diversity."

In 2026, pupils at Ormiston SWB Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Wolverhampton and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Wolverhampton and 47% in England.

That is down from 42 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.5: pupils made well 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 36.8, against 44.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 240 families put Ormiston SWB Academy as their first choice and 452 named it as one of their preferences, for 225 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 34 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ormiston SWB Academy are The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.8); Moseley Park (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 45.4); St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.7); and Grace Academy Darlaston (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Ormiston SWB Academy.

Ormiston SWB Academy is one of 44 schools run by Ormiston Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41 in 2024/25.

Of the 216 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 61% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 47 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 66% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 13% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

54.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 12.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (60%), Asian (13%) and Mixed (11%).

The nearest tram or metro stop is Bilston Central (West Midlands Metro), about 460 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bankfield Road (after), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ormiston SWB Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Ormiston SWB Academy issued 61 suspensions, 5.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ormiston SWB Academy are Loxdale Primary School (0.2 miles), Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles), Wilkinson Primary School (0.7 miles) and Bilston Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.