School Chooser

Queen Mary's High School

Secondary · ages 11-18GirlsAcademy (grammar)949 pupilsSixth formWalsall
School Chooser Score
96
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 94 to 98
Out of 100. Better than 42% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedStrong teachingOfsted report card, March 2026
Strong pass in English and maths95%England 46%
Attendance95.1%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families29%About the same as most schools in England
Parents would recommend92%78 Parent View responses
PlacesFull949 pupils, 858 places

Queen Mary's High School is a converter academy in Walsall for girls aged 11 to 18. It has 949 pupils, 91 more than it has places for. About 29 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 96 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 42% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Upper Forster Street, Walsall, WS4 2AE01922 721013qmhs.org.ukMrs Nicola Daniel head teacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 17 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Strong
Achievement
Exceptional
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Strong
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Strong
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Exceptional
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
Strong
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Strong
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
12 October 2021S5 InspectionOutstanding

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

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

Average GCSE score73.5
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths95%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths99%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.55In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of 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: 72.172.120182019: 71.371.320192022: 76.676.620222023: 74.274.220232024: 72.172.120242025: 73.573.52025
Since 2018: +1.4Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018WalsallEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11146148120119120111
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 873.572.174.276.671.372.143.646.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.55+0.74+0.71+0.58+0.50
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths95%97%99%98%97%95%39%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths99%99%99%98%100%98%57%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score7.177.067.097.426.796.973.824.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry87%87%74%83%79%90%35%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged71.970.967.269.467.164.9
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged74.072.375.677.572.173.0
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers72.775.677.471.172.7

Subjects

Results came out for 19 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

Design & Technology100%grades 9 to 5, England 50%
Geography100%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 26th of 3,116 schools
History96%grades 9 to 5, England 52% · 74th of 3,126 schools
Mathematics97%grades 9 to 5, England 53% · 105th of 3,211 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 languages, computer science, music.

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

Every subject against England, 2025
English Literature146 entries · 1st of 19 in Walsall
97%England 58%
English Language146 entries · 1st of 19 in Walsall
97%England 54%
Mathematics145 entries · 2nd of 19 in Walsall
97%England 53%
Biology136 entries · 1st of 13 in Walsall
100%England 82%
Physics135 entries · 4th of 13 in Walsall
97%England 82%
Chemistry135 entries · 2nd of 13 in Walsall
99%England 81%
History89 entries · 1st of 18 in Walsall
96%England 52%
Spanish55 entries · 2nd of 5 in Walsall
91%England 54%
Geography48 entries · 1st of 18 in Walsall
100%England 51%
Religious Studies46 entries · 1st of 13 in Walsall
98%England 60%
French32 entries · 1st of 11 in Walsall
97%England 60%
Other Modern Languages30 entries · 1st of 4 in Walsall
90%England 49%
Art and Design30 entries · 1st of 14 in Walsall
97%England 58%
German29 entries · 1st of 4 in Walsall
100%England 63%
Drama22 entries · 1st of 2 in Walsall
100%England 60%
Computer Science21 entries · 1st of 10 in Walsall
95%England 56%
100%England 50%
Music15 entries
87%England 61%
70%England 36%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
English Literature14674%97%99%58%52 of 3,202
English Language14671%97%99%54%54 of 3,210
Mathematics14569%97%100%53%105 of 3,211
Biology13677%100%100%82%122 of 2,570
Physics13560%97%100%82%595 of 2,546
Chemistry13572%99%100%81%411 of 2,537
History8973%96%97%52%74 of 3,126
Spanish5566%91%96%54%70 of 1,941
Geography4879%100%100%51%26 of 3,116
Religious Studies4694%98%98%60%48 of 1,825
French3284%97%100%60%57 of 1,974
Other Modern Languages3087%90%93%49%38 of 454
Art and Design3077%97%100%58%78 of 2,818
German2983%100%100%63%14 of 571
Drama2277%100%100%60%13 of 844
Computer Science2162%95%100%56%75 of 1,861
Design & Technology1974%100%100%50%
Music1560%87%100%61%
Combined Science1010%70%100%36%

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

94 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB38.8 points per entry
A level progress-0.26Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better26%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished99%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students949898106139165
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry38.7538.6739.0641.9336.5335.46
Average A level gradeBBBB+B-B-
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS39.1038.5839.1041.8635.8735.23
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects26%25%23%37%21%22%
A level progressA level value added-0.26-0.30-0.25-0.29
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed99%98%95%100%92%94%

A level subjects

13 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.

Strongest A levels

Computer Science80%A* to B, England 46% · 10 entries
History76%A* to B, England 55% · 21 entries
Psychology66%A* to B, England 46% · 29 entries
Physics62%A* to B, England 51% · 13 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics51Chemistry49Biology45Psychology29History21Economics14Physics13Computer Science10Religious Studies9English Literature8Geography7Fine Art5Mathematics (Further)5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics51 entries · 37% A* or A · 100% passed
61%England 60%
Chemistry49 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
45%England 53%
Biology45 entries · 38% A* or A · 100% passed
53%England 49%
Psychology29 entries · 10% A* or A · 100% passed
66%England 46%
History21 entries · 29% A* or A · 95% passed
76%England 55%
Economics14 entries · 21% A* or A · 100% passed
57%England 57%
Physics13 entries · 39% A* or A · 100% passed
62%England 51%
Computer Science10 entries · 40% A* or A · 100% passed
80%England 46%
Religious Studies9 entries · 44% A* or A · 100% passed
89%England 50%
English Literature8 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
75%England 52%
Geography7 entries · 43% A* or A · 100% passed
86%England 51%
Fine Art5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 65%
Mathematics (Further)5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 76%

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
71.974.0
Gap 2.1England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
85%98%
Gap 13 ptsEngland 22 pts
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

Grammar school. This is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test.

A few spare places944 pupils for 1,000 places, 2024/25
94% full

About 56 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have grown by 6% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Walsall council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school92%England 77%
My child is happy here83%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe92%
Positive overall88%
My child is happy at this school
83%England 75%
My child feels safe at this school
92%England 79%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
90%England 71%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
17% yesEngland 26%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
85%England 48%
My child gets the right support to learn well
86%England 71%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
14% yesEngland 31%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
100%England 58%
The school communicates well with me
87%England 71%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
62%England 58%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
86%England 67%
I would recommend this school
92%England 77%
Overall view of the school is positive
88%England 67%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 78 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.

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 roll949Census January 2026
Places858111% full
Pupils from low-income families28%29% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English29%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support5%47 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan0%2 pupils with a plan
Average class size24.536 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils11%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)31%£257,400 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls12 / 937
White British pupils13%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (18), emotional and mental health (8), language and communications needs (8), Specific learning difficulty (7), Hearing impairment (4), Physical disability (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll949944937908893846
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals28%23%18%15%14%12%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language29%29%29%31%32%34%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support6%5%5%5%4%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans0%0%0%0%0%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance95.1%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school13.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.72024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.5%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.9%6.0%6.4%6.9%3.5%5.0%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.4%5.3%5.8%6.3%3.3%4.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.5%0.7%0.6%0.6%0.2%0.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence13.2%18.0%21.0%26.9%6.5%16.4%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.71.32.10.80.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 120 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training98%and stayed there for at least six months
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training98%98%99%100%
Education97%98%99%99%
Apprenticeship0%1%0%1%
Work1%0%0%0%
Not in education, work or training2%1%1%0%

After sixth form

Where the 96 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training92%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 90%, compared with 92% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training92%England 72%
Top-third universities52%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course2%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 87% went on to degree-level study or training and 40% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training92%95%91%
Education79%87%72%
Apprenticeship5%3%4%1%
Work7%6%15%
Not in education, work or training5%1%9%

Staff and money

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

Teachers50.1full-time equivalent, 55 people
Pupils per teacher19.0Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.1full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£54,599
Teachers who left in the year6%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher6.62024/25

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£6,987England £7,965. Total £6.6m
Income per pupil£7,584England £8,423. Total £7.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,957England £4,444
Money in reserve25%A lot put by: £1.8m, £1,863 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£563kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,987spent 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 m78512 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate125 per 1,000 people38% higher than the England average
Typical house price£221,288Walsall

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
Walsall Studio SchoolStudio schools910 m206No overall grade 20254Compare
Blue Coat Church of England AcademyAcademy960 m972Good 202335Compare
Queen Mary's Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)0.9 miles1,399Outstanding 202398Compare
West Walsall E-ACT AcademyAcademy1.5 miles1,186Good 202345Compare
Joseph Leckie AcademyAcademy1.7 miles1,524Report card 202638Compare
Wood Green AcademyAcademy2.2 miles1,518Good 202052Compare
Stuart Bathurst Catholic High SchoolAcademy2.2 miles807Good 202421Compare
Bloxwich AcademyAcademy2.2 miles1,383Report card 20264Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Queen Mary's High School 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.

Beats42%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 96 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 81 · middle 97 · highest 100100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 96 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 96% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 94 to 98. 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%well above
+0.54
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 146 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.23
Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.24
DfE progress measure; 146 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.03
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well above
+0.12
2024/25; 752 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.07
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 146 pupils
What pupils do next5%well above
+0.07
120 pupils
What parents say5%above
+0.04
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 78 responses

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 Queen Mary's High School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Queen Mary's High School scores 96 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 42% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 94 to 98, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Queen Mary's High School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 17 March 2026 it rated teaching as strong, achievement as exceptional, behaviour and attendance as strong, leadership as strong.

How good are Queen Mary's High School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 95% 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 73.5, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Queen Mary's High School have?

949 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 858 places, so it is 111% full. It is a girls' school.

Is Queen Mary's High School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 56 places were empty in 2024/25 (6% of the total), so most families who apply get a place. As a grammar school, places depend on the entrance test first.

Does Queen Mary's High School have an entrance exam?

Yes. It is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test, usually sat in September of Year 6. Check the school's admissions page for the test dates and the pass mark.

What is attendance like at Queen Mary's High School?

Pupils were in school 95.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 13% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about Queen Mary's High School?

92% of the 78 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 83% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at Queen Mary's High School?

The average class had 24.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 11% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Queen Mary's High School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B. 13 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
Upper Forster Street, Walsall, WS4 2AE
Telephone
01922 721013
Website
www.qmhs.org.uk
Head Teacher
Mrs Nicola Daniel
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Girls
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
The Mercian Trust (12 schools)
Local authority
Walsall
Ward
St Matthew's
Constituency
Walsall and Bloxwich
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 June 2011 (academy converter)
URN
136777 · LAESTAB 3355403 · UKPRN 10033781
Formerly
Queen Mary's High School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from