School Chooser

Hamstead Hall Academy

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,173 pupilsSixth formBirmingham
School Chooser Score
55
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 45 to 66
Out of 100. Better than 86% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, April 2024
Strong pass in English and maths36%England 46%
Attendance93.7%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families41%Far more than most schools
PlacesFull1,173 pupils, 1,104 places
Pupils per teacher15.3School workforce census

Hamstead Hall Academy is a converter academy in Birmingham for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,173 pupils, 69 more than it has places for. About 41 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 55 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 86% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.

Craythorne Avenue, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 1HL0121 386 7510hamsteadhall.comMrs Carla Tranter heads of schoolAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 10 April 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

185 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score42.1
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths36%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths62%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.05In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 41.841.820182019: 43.743.720192022: 43.943.920222023: 42.442.420232024: 41.741.720242025: 42.142.12025
Since 2018: +0.3Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018BirminghamEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11185188189187171177
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 842.141.742.443.943.741.847.346.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.05+0.12+0.06-0.01-0.18
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths36%42%41%41%39%40%46%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths62%62%60%63%60%64%65%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.773.813.833.943.933.694.224.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry60%63%53%60%62%44%48%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged37.535.337.735.139.335.0
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged45.045.845.449.946.346.0
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers25.925.330.024.816.3
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers63.066.066.155.056.6

Subjects

Results came out for 20 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Statistics95%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 74th of 375 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Drama (0% here, 60% across England), Spanish (14% here, 54% across England), Chemistry (41% here, 81% across England), Biology (50% here, 82% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 languages, computer science, classics.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics185 entries · 57th of 86 in Birmingham
42%England 53%
English Language183 entries · 55th of 86 in Birmingham
46%England 54%
English Literature180 entries · 71st of 85 in Birmingham
42%England 58%
Combined Science100 entries · 49th of 79 in Birmingham
26%England 36%
History98 entries · 50th of 83 in Birmingham
42%England 52%
Business84 entries · 14th of 45 in Birmingham
54%England 51%
Chemistry83 entries · 69th of 71 in Birmingham
41%England 81%
Physics80 entries · 66th of 71 in Birmingham
53%England 82%
Biology70 entries · 70th of 72 in Birmingham
50%England 82%
Geography64 entries · 44th of 82 in Birmingham
41%England 51%
Religious Studies55 entries · 70th of 74 in Birmingham
33%England 60%
Spanish52 entries · 40th of 41 in Birmingham
14%England 54%
Art and Design45 entries · 53rd of 71 in Birmingham
38%England 58%
French41 entries · 49th of 62 in Birmingham
34%England 60%
Drama24 entries · 8th of 8 in Birmingham
0%England 60%
Computer Science22 entries · 41st of 54 in Birmingham
36%England 56%
Statistics21 entries · 2nd of 11 in Birmingham
95%England 51%
79%England 56%
Latin14 entries
50%England 82%
46%England 49%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics18519%42%64%53%2,348 of 3,211
English Language18313%46%69%54%2,128 of 3,210
English Literature18012%42%67%58%2,603 of 3,202
Combined Science1004%26%41%36%2,185 of 3,084
History9816%42%56%52%2,127 of 3,126
Business8412%54%67%51%720 of 1,806
Chemistry8316%41%60%81%2,430 of 2,537
Physics8018%53%63%82%2,326 of 2,546
Biology7016%50%71%82%2,388 of 2,570
Geography6413%41%67%51%2,084 of 3,116
Religious Studies5513%33%58%60%1,707 of 1,825
Spanish520%14%35%54%1,910 of 1,941
Art and Design4511%38%51%58%2,305 of 2,818
French4122%34%51%60%1,744 of 1,974
Drama240%0%13%60%842 of 844
Computer Science225%36%59%56%1,432 of 1,861
Statistics2133%95%100%51%74 of 375
Physical Education147%79%86%56%
Latin1429%50%64%82%
Other Modern Languages1146%46%64%49%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

90 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC-27.7 points per entry
A level progress-0.15Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better5%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished99%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students901157086183168
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry27.6725.0124.1929.7523.3327.68
Average A level gradeC-C-D+CD+C-
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS27.3126.3024.6331.2823.8027.64
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects5%2%3%13%4%3%
A level progressA level value added-0.15-0.15-0.32-0.09
Applied general courses: points per entry27.0929.2927.4026.44
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed99%84%96%99%82%92%

A level subjects

12 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics33Psychology31Biology30Chemistry23Sociology19English Literature16Economics16Law12History11Physics11Business Studies10Media / Film / TV Studies5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics33 entries · 9% A* or A · 91% passed
24%England 60%
Psychology31 entries · 10% A* or A · 97% passed
36%England 46%
Biology30 entries · 7% A* or A · 93% passed
27%England 49%
Chemistry23 entries · 17% A* or A · 91% passed
26%England 53%
Sociology19 entries · 11% A* or A · 95% passed
21%England 49%
English Literature16 entries · 6% A* or A · 100% passed
13%England 52%
Economics16 entries · 0% A* or A · 94% passed
38%England 57%
Law12 entries · 17% A* or A · 92% passed
42%England 40%
History11 entries · 27% A* or A · 91% passed
27%England 55%
Physics11 entries · 9% A* or A · 100% passed
9%England 51%
Business Studies10 entries · 10% A* or A · 100% passed
30%England 47%
Media / Film / TV Studies5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 46%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
37.545.0
Gap 7.5England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
31%39%
Gap 8 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
41.442.7
Gap 1.3England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Plenty of spare places1,176 pupils for 1,441 places, 2024/25
82% full

265 places were empty (18% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 4% since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (186 offers for 210 places). 119 families put it down as their first choice and 119 of them got in (100%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary210119749186100%all offeredLA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,173Census January 2026
Places1,104106% full
Pupils from low-income families38%41% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English48%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support14%167 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%49 pupils with a plan
Average class size22.246 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils15%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)48%£536,800 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls697 / 476
White British pupils2%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 45 pupils, for moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Birmingham with moderate learning difficulties provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (85), emotional and mental health (46), language and communications needs (39), Autistic spectrum disorder (23), Specific learning difficulty (7), Other difficulty or disability (5).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,1731,1821,1851,1401,1261,112
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals38%36%33%31%30%27%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language48%47%50%52%51%51%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support15%15%15%14%28%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans5%6%5%5%5%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance93.7%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school16.1%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils4.52024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.7%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.3%8.2%8.2%8.5%5.2%5.3%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.6%4.8%6.1%6.7%4.4%4.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.7%3.3%2.1%1.8%0.8%1.0%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence16.1%25.2%27.5%27.8%14.5%13.6%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate4.57.35.96.14.7
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions02030

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 189 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training94%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 89%, compared with 97% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training94%93%97%93%
Education92%89%94%92%
Apprenticeship1%2%1%0%
Work1%2%2%1%
Not in education, work or training3%4%1%2%

After sixth form

Where the 68 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training75%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 73%, compared with 76% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training85%England 72%
Top-third universities25%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship3%England 6%
Higher technical course2%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 83% went on to degree-level study or training and 25% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training75%85%83%
Education62%78%73%
Apprenticeship3%4%2%1%
Work10%4%8%
Not in education, work or training21%7%11%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers76.9full-time equivalent, 80 people
Pupils per teacher15.3Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers99%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants17.8full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£46,648
Teachers who left in the year16%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies1
Sick days per teacher5.82024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£8,108England £7,965. Total £9.6m
Income per pupil£8,829England £8,423. Total £11m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,515England £4,444
Money in reserve7%Not much put by: £713k, £599 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£858kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,108spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m11612 months to June 2026, mostly shoplifting
Local crime rate59 per 1,000 people36% lower than the England average
Typical house price£235,000Birmingham

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
St John Wall Catholic SchoolRoman Catholic1.1 miles591Good 202370Compare
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' AcademyAcademy1.3 miles1,052No overall grade 202569Compare
Q3 Academy Great BarrAcademy1.6 miles1,153Good 202240Compare
Arena AcademyAcademy1.6 miles969No overall grade 202439Compare
Holyhead SchoolAcademy1.7 miles1,257Good 202054Compare
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for BoysAcademy (grammar)1.8 miles1,054Good 202494Compare
Sandwell AcademyAcademy1.9 miles1,463Good 202454Compare
Fortis AcademyAcademy2.0 miles1,210Good 202326Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Hamstead Hall Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats86%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 55 is 21 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 3 · middle 35 · highest 87100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Hamstead Hall Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Lyndon SchoolAcademy8.5 miles1,169Good 202279Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 55 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 55% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 45 to 66. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.11
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 185 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 2.4 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.01
DfE progress measure; 185 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.04
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.08
2024/25; 1,071 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 185 pupils
What pupils do next5%in line
+0.01
189 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Hamstead Hall Academy a good school?

It is about average. Hamstead Hall Academy scores 55 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 86% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 45 to 66, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Hamstead Hall Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Hamstead Hall Academy good at its last full inspection on 10 April 2024.

How good are Hamstead Hall Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 36% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 42.1, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Hamstead Hall Academy have?

1,173 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,104 places, so it is 106% full.

Is Hamstead Hall Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 265 places were empty in 2024/25 (18% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Hamstead Hall Academy?

Pupils were in school 93.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 16% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Hamstead Hall Academy?

The average class had 22.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 15% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Hamstead Hall Academy have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

Does Hamstead Hall Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C-. 12 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Craythorne Avenue, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 1HL
Telephone
0121 386 7510
Website
www.hamsteadhall.com
Heads of School
Mrs Carla Tranter
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
Hamstead Hall Academy Trust (2 schools)
Local authority
Birmingham
Ward
Handsworth Wood
Constituency
Birmingham Perry Barr
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 June 2013 (academy converter)
URN
139746 · LAESTAB 3304240 · UKPRN 10041821
Formerly
Hamstead Hall Community Learning Centre

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from