Smith's Wood Academy, Birmingham

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades Smith's Wood Academy on 6 areas: 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders' work to improve attendance has been particularly effective."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils who experience barriers to their learning or wellbeing, including those who are disadvantaged or pupils who speak English as an additional language, are generally supported well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There have been significant and highly effective changes to the leadership of the school since the last inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils are well prepared for life outside of school and for the next stages of their education and careers."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement in national examinations is not high enough."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders, typically, have a clear understanding of the quality of teaching through regular 'check-ins'."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that pupils who need to develop their foundational skills, including legible handwriting, correct spelling of key words and correct use of punctuation and grammar, are supported consistently and effectively to do so. • Leaders should ensure that staff adapt their teaching and assessment effectively to ensure that pupils receive the support and challenge that they need to deepen their key knowledge and skills".

In 2026, pupils at Smith's Wood Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 33, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.4 in Solihull and 47 across England.

14% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Solihull and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 32.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.52: 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 29.1, against 39.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 84 families put Smith's Wood Academy as their first choice and 276 named it as one of their preferences, for 117 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Smith's Wood Academy are Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst (0.9 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 33.4); John Henry Newman Catholic College (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 42.1); WMG Academy for Young Engineers (Solihull) (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.5); and Park Hall Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Smith's Wood Academy.

Smith's Wood Academy is one of 4 schools run by Fairfax Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.2 in 2024/25.

39 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Smith's Wood Academy (as of April 2026): 64% would recommend the school, 62% say their child is happy there and 36% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (64%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (36%).

Of the 145 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 72% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 64% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

65.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (65%), Mixed (15%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 202 pupils (29%) received SEN support and 12 (1.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Water Orton Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Smiths Wood Academy (adjacent), 100 metres away.

In 2024/25, Smith's Wood Academy issued 630 suspensions, 84.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Smith's Wood Academy are St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School (0.1 miles), Kingshurst Primary School (0.3 miles), Smith's Wood Primary Academy (0.3 miles) and St Anthony's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.