Waverley School
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Waverley School is a converter academy in Birmingham for boys and girls aged 2 to 19. It has 1,687 pupils and room for 1,947. About 54 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 31 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 30% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2021.
Yardley Green Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B9 5QA0121 566 6600waverley.bham.sch.ukCo Headteacher Satnam Dosanjh Hugh Derry headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 28 September 2021, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall.
This inspection is more than 5 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
213 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 213 | 217 | 186 | 190 | 177 | 182 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 41.9 | 39.7 | 43.3 | 43.6 | 42.9 | 41.5 | 47.3 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | -0.04 | +0.02 | -0.06 | +0.03 | -0.30 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 34% | 34% | 44% | 41% | 37% | 30% | 46% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 56% | 61% | 59% | 59% | 59% | 58% | 65% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 3.84 | 3.50 | 3.74 | 3.67 | 3.95 | 3.74 | 4.22 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 76% | 65% | 69% | 41% | 88% | 96% | 48% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 42.9 | 37.6 | 41.9 | 43.3 | 42.2 | 38.2 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 40.6 | 41.3 | 47.5 | 45.7 | 43.7 | 44.4 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 28.4 | 27.1 | 30.2 | 25.7 | 24.8 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 62.7 | 62.3 | 62.5 | 58.3 | 53.3 | – | – |
Subjects
Results came out for 16 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.
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Social Studies (20% here, 54% across England), Geography (25% here, 51% across England), French (38% here, 60% across England), History (32% here, 52% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 214 | 18% | 49% | 63% | 54% | 1,887 of 3,210 |
| English Literature | 211 | 20% | 58% | 70% | 58% | 1,416 of 3,202 |
| Mathematics | 207 | 15% | 38% | 61% | 53% | 2,558 of 3,211 |
| Religious Studies | 201 | 17% | 53% | 66% | 60% | 1,239 of 1,825 |
| Combined Science | 168 | 4% | 17% | 35% | 36% | 2,772 of 3,084 |
| Geography | 105 | 8% | 25% | 35% | 51% | 2,830 of 3,116 |
| History | 103 | 15% | 32% | 54% | 52% | 2,695 of 3,126 |
| Other Modern Languages | 80 | 14% | 48% | 71% | 49% | 335 of 454 |
| Spanish | 59 | 19% | 58% | 76% | 54% | 895 of 1,941 |
| Social Studies | 46 | 7% | 20% | 30% | 54% | 996 of 1,043 |
| Biology | 45 | 22% | 78% | 87% | 82% | 1,748 of 2,570 |
| Chemistry | 44 | 32% | 73% | 91% | 81% | 1,859 of 2,537 |
| Physics | 44 | 18% | 75% | 91% | 82% | 1,800 of 2,546 |
| Computer Science | 39 | 21% | 46% | 67% | 56% | 1,167 of 1,861 |
| Art and Design | 34 | 21% | 56% | 77% | 58% | 1,558 of 2,818 |
| French | 34 | 18% | 38% | 44% | 60% | 1,667 of 1,974 |
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.
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
92 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 92 | 93 | 89 | 89 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 67% | 58% | 57% | 65% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 5% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 105.0 | 105.0 | 104.0 | 103.0 | 105.6 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 107.0 | 108.0 | 105.0 | 104.0 | 104.9 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 109.0 | 108.0 | 106.0 | 107.0 | 106.5 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 77% | 76% | 69% | 74% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 88% | 86% | 78% | 71% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 72% | 71% | 71% | 81% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +0.4 | +0.6 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +2.2 | +0.3 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 70% | 59% | 56% | 54% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 63% | 78% | 61% | 59% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
A level and sixth-form results, 2025
62 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 62 | 61 | 55 | 59 | 135 | 114 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | 14.85 | 21.93 | 22.82 | 29.39 | 25.10 | 31.61 |
| Average A level grade | E+ | D+ | D+ | C | C- | C |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | 13.60 | 22.50 | 22.46 | 29.90 | 25.18 | 32.75 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | 0% | 3% | 3% | 6% | 4% | 12% |
| A level progressA level value added | -0.95 | -0.47 | – | – | -0.45 | +0.46 |
| Applied general courses: points per entry | 27.68 | 23.79 | 33.19 | 32.64 | – | – |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | 92% | 96% | 93% | 88% | 87% | 87% |
A level subjects
7 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.
Every A level subject against England, 2025
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. 6 of the 7 gaps are 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
At the end of primary school, 2025
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.
About 130 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.
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 (120 offers for 120 places). 90 families put it down as their first choice and 84 of them got in (93%).
| Entry | Places | Put it first | Applied at all | Got a place | First choices who got in | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Secondary | 120 | 90 | 912 | 120 | 93% | – all offered | LA |
What parents say
From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 29 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.
Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 67 pupils, for autism, moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication, severe learning difficulties, specific learning difficulties.
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 autism provision.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 21.1 pupils (England 26.2); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 28.8 (England 28.2).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (91), language and communications needs (89), Autistic spectrum disorder (58), emotional and mental health (34), Physical disability (18), Specific learning difficulty (8).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 1,687 | 1,696 | 1,810 | 1,750 | 1,689 | 1,691 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 53% | 50% | 39% | 42% | 42% | 39% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 61% | 58% | 59% | 59% | 59% | 59% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 15% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 14% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 90.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 9.9% | 11.8% | 9.8% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.7% | 5.9% | 6.1% | 6.9% | 4.3% | 4.1% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 5.2% | 5.9% | 3.7% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 1.9% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 35.5% | 41.2% | 33.4% | 35.0% | 17.8% | 17.1% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 12.6 | 16.6 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 1.8 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – | – |
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 186 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 91%, compared with 96% for everyone else.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 92% | 88% | 94% | 91% |
| Education | 90% | 86% | 92% | 90% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 0% | 1% |
| Not in education, work or training | 4% | 9% | 6% | 5% |
After sixth form
Where the 54 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 80%, compared with 74% for everyone else.
Where the ones heading for university went
Among students from low-income families, 76% went on to degree-level study or training and 29% to a top-third university.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 76% | 75% | 87% | – |
| Education | 72% | 62% | 74% | – |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Work | 0% | 12% | 11% | – |
| Not in education, work or training | 20% | 21% | 11% | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
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.
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
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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Birmingham | Free school | 320 m | 618 | Outstanding 2024 | 97 | Compare |
| Waverley Studio College | Studio schools | 350 m | 223 | Good 2022 | 2 | Compare |
| Starbank School | Academy | 610 m | 2,161 | Good 2023 | 74 | Compare |
| Alston Primary School | Academy | 670 m | 636 | Not inspected | 31 | Compare |
| Bordesley Green Primary School | Council | 710 m | 639 | Good 2023 | 8 | Compare |
| St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School | Roman Catholic | 720 m | 559 | Good 2023 | 50 | Compare |
| Hamd House School | Independent | 860 m | 433 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| Saltley Academy | Academy | 950 m | 1,356 | Good 2023 | 33 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Waverley 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.
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 Waverley School, 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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbank School | Academy | 610 m | 2,161 | Good 2023 | 74 | Compare |
| Washwood Heath Academy | Academy | 1.1 miles | 1,668 | Good 2020 | 55 | Compare |
| Small Heath Leadership Academy | Academy | 1.2 miles | 1,131 | Good 2022 | 70 | Compare |
| Ninestiles, an Academy | Academy | 2.5 miles | 1,476 | Good 2019 | 51 | Compare |
| Broadway Academy | Academy | 3.8 miles | 1,222 | Good 2022 | 44 | Compare |
| Hamstead Hall Academy | Academy | 6.1 miles | 1,173 | Good 2024 | 55 | Compare |
| Holly Lodge High School College of Science | Foundation | 6.9 miles | 1,636 | Good 2022 | 41 | Compare |
| Joseph Leckie Academy | Academy | 8.9 miles | 1,524 | Report card 2026 | 38 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 31 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 31% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 23 to 40. 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 at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | below | -0.11 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 213 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 15% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 5.0 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.01 | DfE progress measure; 213 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | in line | -0.03 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | below | -0.07 | 2024/25; 1,717 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | -0.03 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 213 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | in line | 0.00 | 186 pupils |
| What parents say | 5% | well below | -0.07 | Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 29 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 Waverley School a good school?
The figures are weak. Waverley School scores 31 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 30% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 23 to 40, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Waverley School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Waverley School good at its last full inspection on 28 September 2021. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.
How good are Waverley School's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 34% 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 41.9, 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 good are Waverley School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 67% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 8% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Waverley School have?
1,687 pupils aged 2 to 19 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,947 places, so it is 87% full.
Is Waverley School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 130 places were empty in 2024/25 (7% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Waverley School?
Pupils were in school 90.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 35% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
What do parents say about Waverley School?
45% of the 29 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 52% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.
How big are the classes at Waverley School?
The average class had 21.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 4% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Waverley School have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for autism, moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication, severe learning difficulties, specific learning difficulties. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does Waverley School have a sixth form?
Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was E+. 7 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
- Yardley Green Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B9 5QA
- Telephone
- 0121 566 6600
- Website
- www.waverley.bham.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Co Headteacher Satnam Dosanjh Hugh Derry
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- All-through school, ages 2-19, with nursery, with sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Multi-academy trust
- The Waverley Education Foundation Ltd (2 schools)
- Local authority
- Birmingham
- Ward
- Heartlands
- Constituency
- Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 August 2015 (academy converter)
- URN
- 142219 · LAESTAB 3304009 · UKPRN 10053520
- Formerly
- Waverley School
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- A level subjects: DfE A level and other 16 to 18 results, subject entries and grades, 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Birmingham council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.