Water Orton Primary School, Birmingham

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Water Orton Primary School on 7 areas: 5 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. "Improving the attendance of pupils remains a priority for leaders."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a broad and balanced curriculum that reflects the school's context."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise their offer for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are tenacious and committed to realising the potential of all pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a coherent and well sequenced programme of personal development that extends beyond the taught curriculum."

Achievement - Needs attention. "By the end of Year 6, some pupils do not achieve as well as they should."

Early years - Needs attention. "Further work is needed in the early years to ensure that any variations in teaching and expectations do not hinder what children can achieve."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all staff further adapt their teaching and assessment to challenge pupils more so that they reach their potential"; "Leaders should ensure that all early years' staff further develop their knowledge and skills, including of phonics, to improve children's learning"; "Leaders should ensure that their attendance strategy and actions become embedded to further raise attendance, particularly for pupils who face barriers to their learning".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics, running, choir, coding and Lego.

Coming up: an open evening on Friday 25 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 58% of Year 6 pupils at Water Orton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 56% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 74% in Warwickshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 67% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Water Orton Primary School as their first choice and 83 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Water Orton Primary School are Smith's Wood Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Outstanding, 90% reading, 90% maths); St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School (1 mile, Good, 60% reading, 73% maths); Castle Bromwich Infant and Nursery School (1 mile); and Castle Bromwich Junior School (1.2 miles, 80% reading, 78% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Water Orton Primary School.

1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 46 pupils (15.4%) received SEN support and 26 (8.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Water Orton Primary School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 8 places, 9 pupils on roll.

Water Orton Primary School had 20 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Water Orton Rail Station, about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

In 2024/25, Water Orton Primary School issued 18 suspensions, 5.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Water Orton Primary School are Park Hall Academy (0.9 miles) and Smith's Wood Academy (1.1 miles).