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Schools in West Midlands

A region of England

  • Region
  • 4,318 schools and nurseries
  • 974,100 pupils

In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are close to England, and results at 16 are close to England. Attendance is close to the England figure.

Three children with backpacks crossing a street
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

West Midlands at a glance

Close to England on most measures

How West Midlands's schools compare with England, area by area.

DfE and Ofsted data, 2018 to 2025How we work this out
  • Schools and nurseries4,3182,062 primary · 789 secondary · 1,669 nurseries
  • Primaries Good or better89%England 90%
  • Met the standard at 1160%England 61%
  • Grade 5 in English and maths45%Progress 8 -0.06
  • Free school meals, primary31%A sign of family income
  • Missed a lot of school21%England 20%
By age

What's on offer for each age

Pick a stage to see every West Midlands school for that age, with filters for type, faith and Ofsted grade.

More ways to narrow it down

Here's how West Midlands's schools break down by type, faith and more.

West Midlands vs England

How good are West Midlands's schools?

Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.

Numbers that sum up West Midlands

West MidlandsEngland

  • Primaries rated Good or Outstanding

    Latest Ofsted grade, 1561 primaries with one.

    89%

    England 90%

    Close to England

  • Secondaries rated Good or Outstanding

    276 of the 325 with a grade.

    85%

  • Met the expected standard at 11

    Reading, writing and maths.

    60%

    England 61%

    Close to England

  • Grade 5 or above in English and maths

    At GCSE.

    45%

  • Pupils who miss a lot of school

    Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.

    21%

    England 20%

    Close to England

  • Primary pupils on free school meals

    A sign of family income, not of school quality.

    31%

Ofsted grades

Latest graded inspection for the 2001 schools that have one.

89%

Good or Outstanding

Each square is 1% of schools.

  • Outstanding280
  • Good1500
  • Requires improvement196
  • Inadequate25

How it has changed

West Midlands in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

Met the expected standard at 11

Covid gap50%60%70%2018201920232024
60% in 2024. England now 61% (dashed line).

Grade 5 or above in English and maths

Covid gap30%45%60%20182019202220232024
42% in 2024.

Pupils who miss a lot of school

Covid gap0%15%30%20182019202220232024
21% in 2024. England now 20% (dashed line).
Top-rated

The highest-rated schools in West Midlands

Ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. A high score isn't everything: always visit.

All West Midlands primary schools

Top Primary Schools in West Midlands

2,062 in West Midlands, best first

Arise Education

CV31 2HB · Independent · All-through · Ages 5 to 18

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
31
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Arise Education

Aurora Hanley School

Stoke On Trent, ST2 8PQ · Independent · All-through · Ages 6 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
89
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Aurora Hanley School

Avon Park School

Rugby, CV22 5HR · Independent · All-through · Ages 6 to 16

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
108
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Avon Park School

Bluebell School Ltd

ST7 1EH · Independent · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
134
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Bluebell School Ltd
See all 2,062 primary schools

Top Secondary Schools in West Midlands

789 in West Midlands, best first

Swanshurst School

Birmingham, B13 0TW · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 19 · Girls

  • No Ofsted grade yet

Results above the England average.

312 first choices for 329 places last year

Attainment 8 at 1653.3

England 46.1

Days missed
–
Pupils
1,928
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Swanshurst School

Nuneaton Academy

Nuneaton, CV10 7PD · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 16

  • Ofsted:Report card

Results below the England average.

143 first choices for 166 places last year

Attainment 8 at 1641.8

England 46.1

Days missed
–
Pupils
961
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Nuneaton Academy

Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NH · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18 · Boys

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results well above the England average.

306 first choices for 190 places last year

Attainment 8 at 1679.5

England 46.1

Days missed
–
Pupils
1,455
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

King Edward VI School

Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 6BE · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18 · Boys

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results well above the England average.

221 first choices for 87 places last year

Attainment 8 at 1681.1

England 46.1

Days missed
–
Pupils
869
Pupils per teacher
–
View school King Edward VI School
See all 789 secondary schools

Top Nurseries in West Midlands

1,669 in West Midlands, best first

Greenhall

Stafford, ST16 1PS · Academy · Nursery · Ages 2 to 5

  • No Ofsted grade yet

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
39
Pupils per teacher
8.5
View school Greenhall

Fullbrook Nursery School

Walsall, WS5 4NN · State · Nursery · Ages 3 to 4

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
120
Pupils per teacher
48.5
View school Fullbrook Nursery School

Jakeman Nursery School

Birmingham, B12 9NX · State · Nursery · Ages 2 to 5

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
99
Pupils per teacher
21.3
View school Jakeman Nursery School

Brearley Nursery School

Birmingham, B19 3XJ · State · Nursery · Ages 2 to 5

  • Ofsted:Report card

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
94
Pupils per teacher
31.8
View school Brearley Nursery School

Hednesford Nursery School

Cannock, WS12 1AR · State · Nursery · Ages 0 to 4

  • Ofsted:Good

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
13
Pupils per teacher
17.0
View school Hednesford Nursery School
See all 1,669 nurseries

Top Sixth Form Colleges in West Midlands

24 in West Midlands, best first

Condover College Limited

Shrewsbury, SY4 1HF · Special · 16+ · Ages 18 to 24

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
–
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Condover College Limited

The Hive College

Birmingham, B23 7AT · Special · 16+ · Ages 19 to 25

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
–
Pupils per teacher
–
View school The Hive College

The Beacon College

Hereford, HR1 1NZ · 16+ · Ages 16 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
43
Pupils per teacher
5.4
View school The Beacon College

Hereford Sixth Form College

Hereford, HR1 1LU · Academy · Sixth Form · Ages 16 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
0
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Hereford Sixth Form College

Queen Alexandra College

Birmingham, B17 9TG · Special · 16+ · Ages 16 to 25

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
–
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Queen Alexandra College
See all 24 sixth form colleges

Top Special Schools in West Midlands

319 in West Midlands, best first

Aurora Hanley School

Stoke On Trent, ST2 8PQ · Independent · All-through · Ages 6 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
89
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Aurora Hanley School

Avon Park School

Rugby, CV22 5HR · Independent · All-through · Ages 6 to 16

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
108
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Avon Park School

Bluebell School Ltd

ST7 1EH · Independent · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
134
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Bluebell School Ltd

Cherry Tree School

Walsall, WS1 4AB · Independent · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
61
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Cherry Tree School

Condover College Limited

Shrewsbury, SY4 1HF · Special · 16+ · Ages 18 to 24

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
–
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Condover College Limited

Coppice Academy

Newcastle, ST5 2EY · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 16

  • No Ofsted grade yet

No published results yet.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
8.0%
Pupils
110
Pupils per teacher
9.6
View school Coppice Academy
See all 319 special schools

Top Independent Schools in West Midlands

273 in West Midlands, best first

Al-Burhan Grammar School

Birmingham, B11 3DW · Independent · Secondary · Ages 11 to 16 · Girls

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
114
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Al-Burhan Grammar School

Arise Education

CV31 2HB · Independent · All-through · Ages 5 to 18

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
31
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Arise Education

Aurora Hanley School

Stoke On Trent, ST2 8PQ · Independent · All-through · Ages 6 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
89
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Aurora Hanley School

Avon Park School

Rugby, CV22 5HR · Independent · All-through · Ages 6 to 16

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
108
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Avon Park School

Bluebell School Ltd

ST7 1EH · Independent · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
134
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Bluebell School Ltd

Cherry Tree School

Walsall, WS1 4AB · Independent · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
61
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Cherry Tree School
See all 273 independent schools
Living here

What it's like for families

West Midlands has 4,318 schools and nurseries.

More families are moving in: there are 31% more pupils than in 2018.

31% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.

Pupil numbers

Pupils in West Midlands's state schools each January.

Up 31% since 2018. More children can mean popular schools fill up faster.

Free school meals

Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.

West Midlands31%

Dates to know

Apply through your local council, even for academies and faith schools.

  • 31 OctSecondary deadlineFor children starting Year 7.
  • 15 JanPrimary deadlineFor children starting Reception.
  • 1 MarSecondary offersOffers day for Year 7 places.
  • 16 AprPrimary offersOffers day for Reception places.

Keep up with schools in West Midlands

Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.

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Questions

Questions parents ask about West Midlands

Areas in West Midlands

How many schools are in West Midlands?

West Midlands has 4,318 schools, including 2062 primary schools, 789 secondary schools, 1669 nurseries, 273 independent schools, 319 special schools. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.

What are the best schools in West Midlands?

The top-rated schools in West Midlands include Greenhall, Fullbrook Nursery School, Jakeman Nursery School, based on a composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, and pupil progress measures. Rankings are updated regularly as new data is published by the Department for Education.

What percentage of schools in West Midlands are rated Good or Outstanding?

89% of inspected schools in West Midlands hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is above the national average of 89%. This includes 280 schools rated Outstanding and 1500 rated Good.

How do primary schools in West Midlands perform at Key Stage 2?

Across primary schools in West Midlands, 60% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.

What is the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools in West Midlands?

The average Progress 8 score across secondary schools in West Midlands is -0.06, which is close to the national average. Progress 8 measures how much progress pupils make between Key Stage 2 and their GCSE results, compared to pupils with similar prior attainment nationally.

What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in West Midlands?

The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in West Midlands is 19.8:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. The national average for state-funded schools is approximately 17:1.

What is the persistent absence rate in West Midlands schools?

The persistent absence rate across schools in West Midlands is 20.8%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. The national average is approximately 22%.

How many pupils attend schools in West Midlands?

There are 974,100 pupils enrolled across schools in West Midlands, with 554,963 in primary and 382,201 in secondary. 31.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

How many private schools are in West Midlands?

There are 273 independent schools in West Midlands. Fees vary by school and age group, with day school fees typically ranging from £10,000 to £20,000 per year. You can compare all private schools in West Midlands on Eduscope, including ISI inspection ratings where available.

How do I choose the right school in West Midlands?

Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 4,318 schools in West Midlands by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.

Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.

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