Penny Tree School, Birmingham
Penny Tree School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Birmingham.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Penny Tree School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Penny Tree School are Lindsworth School (1.1 miles, Requires improvement); Maple House School (1.3 miles, Good); Selly Oak Trust School (1.5 miles, Good); and Victoria School (1.7 miles, Good).
Lindsworth SchoolMaple House SchoolSelly Oak Trust SchoolVictoria School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kings Norton Rail Station, about 90 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
21 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kings Norton Station, 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 222 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Birmingham (435).
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Penny Tree School is specifically designed for pupils with autism by experienced leaders who understand their needs deeply. The school offers small classes, specialist support, and a carefully planned curriculum that builds confidence and life skills while keeping academic ambitions high. The proprietor has thoughtfully considered how to introduce pupils gradually and support staff thoroughly, ensuring a calm and safe learning environment from day one.
Key Strengths
- Experienced proprietor with proven track record operating specialist SEND schools nationally
- Thoughtfully designed curriculum with three learning strands tailored to pupils with autism, including innovative features like an immersive room for virtual exploration
- Comprehensive safeguarding systems with trained designated safeguarding lead and clear oversight processes
- Small class sizes with plans for specialist support and therapeutic provision tailored to individual needs
- Detailed behaviour management and anti-bullying policies with incident tracking systems
Safeguarding
Safeguarding systems are effective - the school has appointed a trained designated safeguarding lead with thorough understanding of statutory duties, established clear processes for staff training and oversight, and developed comprehensive safeguarding policies to maintain pupil safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, Archery club, Penny Tree Pioneers programme with visits to different places, clubs focused on developing interests and character
Penny Tree School is a proposed independent special school for pupils with autism, part of an established group of SEND schools. The inspection found the school is likely to meet all independent school standards if registered.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Penny Tree School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 36
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 36 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 28 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
5 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
Special educational needs provision
Penny Tree School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Penny Tree School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Penny Tree School
Does Penny Tree School have specialist SEN provision?
Penny Tree School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Penny Tree School?
Penny Tree School 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 Penny Tree School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 36 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 28 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 5 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 Penny Tree School?
Penny Tree School is at Imperial Court, Kings Norton Business Park, Birmingham, B30 3ES.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)