Priestley Smith School, Birmingham
Priestley Smith School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Birmingham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Priestley Smith School in detail
Priestley Smith School in its own words
In its own words: "OUR VISION To be an outward-looking centre of excellence in the education of children with visual impairments. OUR MISSION Through high quality teaching, learning and pastoral care, to develop confident, caring and independent young people who are able to succeed in the world in their chosen field."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Priestley Smith School are The Bridge School (1.8 miles, Good); Wilson Stuart School (1.8 miles, Outstanding); The Hive College (1.8 miles, Outstanding); and The Pines Special School (2.2 miles, Good).
The Bridge SchoolWilson Stuart SchoolThe Hive CollegeThe Pines Special School
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Priestley Smith School (as of September 2025): 94% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child does well at the school (94%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
55.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 35.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (46%), White British (28%) and Black (9%).
Almost every pupil at Priestley Smith School has an education, health and care plan (94 of 94 in 2026). The most common need among them is visual impairment.
Priestley Smith School provides for pupils with visual impairment.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hamstead Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Perry Beeches School (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 249 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Birmingham (435).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Priestley Smith School issued 4 suspensions, 4.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The Priestley Smith School is a wonderful place to learn. All pupils have a visual impairment. Through the school's work, all pupils flourish. Staff, parents, carers and pupils are proud to be part of the school. The school has high expectations for all pupils. Staff spend time getting to know each pupil. The quality of care and education is exceptional.
Innovative adaptations help pupils access learning. A reprographics team create resources that engage and excite pupils. Pupils use assistive technology to access the curriculum. For example, when visiting the local supermarket, pupils use apps to scan and identify different products. As a result of this, pupils venture into the community with determination and confidence.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The curriculum is broad, balanced and ambitious. It supports the individual needs and interests of pupils. Leaders have identified what they want pupils to know and remember. Learning is delivered in small steps. This helps pupils make excellent progress from their starting points. For example, the early teaching of Tactile Discrimination Skills (TDS) is a strength. TDS helps pupils develop an awareness of different shapes, patterns and textures. The progressive TDS programme has transformed pupils' learning and independence.
The school has a clear plan in place to help pupils read. The knowledge pupils need to become fluent readers is set out in a logical order, with support from mainstream and specialist experts. For example, the lead braille teacher ensures that staff are confident in teaching braille. This forms the foundations in which reading is built on. Staff check that pupils can remember the intended sounds before they move on. As a result of this, from key stage 2, pupils were reading braille with fluency and accuracy.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its January 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
55.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Vision
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 22% to 10% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Priestley Smith School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Priestley Smith School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Priestley Smith School 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
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 23 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
94 pupils
90 places
4 pupils over capacity
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.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
94
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Priestley Smith School provides for pupils with visual impairment.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
94
Total Pupils
50
Boys
44
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,797
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.4%
Overall absence
41.8%
Persistent absence
67
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Priestley Smith School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Priestley Smith School
What are GCSE results like at Priestley Smith School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Priestley Smith School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Priestley Smith School's Ofsted rating?
Priestley Smith School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Priestley Smith School?
No fixed boundary. When Priestley Smith School is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Priestley Smith School?
Priestley Smith School has around 94 pupils on roll. 55% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Priestley Smith School have specialist SEN provision?
Priestley Smith School provides for pupils with visual impairment.
What is attendance like at Priestley Smith School?
11.4% of sessions were missed at Priestley Smith School in 2024/25. 41.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Priestley Smith School?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Priestley Smith School 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 Priestley Smith School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 23 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Priestley Smith School?
Priestley Smith School is at Perry Beeches Campus, Beeches Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B42 2PY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)