can anyone help me with a secondary school in birmingham

[Ceci03]

So have accepted a job in birmingham but I've started looking for a school for ds, aged 11, and every school that comes up as 'good' is oversubscribed. does anyone know locally of a school that is good, am looking for good sports primarily, that isnt oversubscribed? i'm scared of moving to an area and not being able to get a school place IUKWIM. I'm looking at solihull and around, or if anyone has any suggestions I'm open to anywhere really.

Go private.

To be honest any of the solihull ones are ok. Arden and Tudor Grange are thought to be the best altho I’m not too keen on Tudor grange.
Langley is lovely.
Alderbrook is really good too.
Only Solihull one I would probably avoid is Lyndon which is now part of Ninestiles trust I believe.
Good luck!

Bishop Challoners in Kings Heath has amazing sporting facilities. I think you will only get in if catholic though. Quite close to there is Woodrush too which I think has very good sports facilities too.

Is he currently in year 6 or year 7?

is year 6 the first year of secondary - that's the year he's going into, year 1 of secondary. will have to try and remember what year he is in!

is commute from solihull to b/ham moor st station ok would you say. i'm a single mum, and worried how i'm going to manage before and after school, wondering if I need to find a babysitter or similar. thanks so much for the replies.

norma, would there be a reason you're not so keen on tudor grange.

If I rent somewhere in solihull will he get a place somewhere...

There are also the two high schools in Hagley located close to the train station and served by trains from Birmingham Snow Hill

How do you not know what year secondary school starts?!

The first year of secondary is year 7. If he's in year 6 now you will need to apply for secondary school before 31st October. In order to do that you need an address in the area. Otherwise you will be applying late and are unlikely to get a decent school.

Year 7 is first year secondary. The issue you face is that those children have only just entered the schools so movement is limited and there will be waiting lists. Existing vacancies will be at less popular ones.

I’m not so keen on Tudor grange as I find it very snobby and keep up with the jones’s.
Academically and behaviour wise it is fine tho but not where I would choose.

sorry I didnt explain - I'm coming from Ireland, and here ds is only would have 2 more years in primary (including this year). It's confusing lol. It's looking like I pick a place to rent and hope that there will be a school for him. What happens if no local school can take him. Do they offer you ones further away. Apologies for being clueless!!!

*DS is only still in primary and would have 2 more years...

Year 6 is the last year of primary. Is it a primary school you need, or secondary (year 7)

The LA have to offer somewhere but yes it might not be local to home. How old is your dc - when is /was he 11? If secondary age then he would be expected to make the journey independently but if primary you might get transport if the only available school is 3+ miles away. You can go on waiting lists and/or appeal if you want a different school. Waiting lists are ordered according to the Admissions Criteria, not first come first served, one of which will be distance based, bit you may find siblings or faith is ahead.

I was wondering if you were somewhere not in England. When is his birthday as this will determine which year you’re looking at.

St Peter's is Catholic Secondary, has excellent pastoral care and begins in Year 7, and they get good GCSE results but can't remember name of feeder Catholic primary, possibly Our Lady of the Wayside. If you are by any chance Catholic they will have to find him a place in a Catholic school. You will need letter of reference from your Priest. I would try to get my child in there. Sports facilities generally good in Solihull. House prices very expensive. In not Catholic you won't get in. Other schools Arden, Tudor Grange and Alderbrook all get good GCSE results. As I said Solihull is most expensive area around Birmingham. There are many cheaper areas. Birmingham schools also have Grammar Schools if child is bright academically. They will have to offer a place somewhere for him. When you find out which one come back and tell us.

Quite a few schools feed into St. Peter’s.
Our lady of wayside, our lady of compassion, St. Andrews, st George and Teresa, and prob others. lots get in from Ambrose Barlow living in hall green which is south Birmingham suburb, need to be catholic to get in most of these schools so not sure if that applies to you.
To be honest you definitely have more choice being Catholic in Solihull and south Birmingham.