Smith's Wood Academy, Birmingham
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Smith's Wood Academy creates a calm, happy and inclusive community where pupils feel safe and well cared for. The school excels at supporting pupils who face barriers to learning, including those with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils, through targeted strategies and training for staff. Recent improvements to attendance and behaviour show strong leadership commitment to helping every child succeed.
Key Strengths
- Attendance rates rising swiftly with effective support for pupils facing barriers to learning
- Behaviour has improved significantly with reduced suspensions and pupils showing respect and positive conduct
- New leadership team has reinvigorated the school with clear vision and ambitious goals
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND through tailored strategies and pupil passports
- Broad, well-structured curriculum with strong careers education and employer encounters
Areas for Improvement
- National examination results remain below average - pupils not achieving as well as they could
- Inconsistent teaching quality across school means pupils' experiences are uneven
- Gaps in key knowledge not being closed - particularly spelling, punctuation and grammar in writing
- Quality of pupils' work variable - sometimes incomplete or inaccurate
- Checks on pupil learning not routinely used to plan next steps for progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School choir, debate club, school production, Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme, performance arts opportunities, local community service projects
Smith's Wood Academy has undergone significant improvements under new leadership, with particular success in raising attendance and behaviour. However, pupil achievement in national examinations remains below national average and requires further attention.
At a Glance
65.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
49 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
25.2
Avg class size
26
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
697 pupils
1,000 capacity
303 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Birmingham
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Birmingham
Admissions Demand - Solihull
Places available
3,336
Applications
2,755
Got 1st preference
78.4%
Got preferred school
96.8%
Secondary admissions across Solihull (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.18192%
Overall absence
43.28358%
Persistent absence
804
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Smith's Wood Academy
St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School
Kingshurst Primary School
Smith's Wood Primary Academy
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School
Yorkswood Primary School
Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School
Castle Bromwich Junior School
Castle Bromwich Infant and Nursery School
Hillstone Primary School
Water Orton Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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