Birmingham Secondary Schools

[HairySandwiches]

Hi all.

I’m on the hunt for advice and recommendations on secondary schools.

Not looking for any super duper amazing ones where you have to live within 150meters of the gates. Just nice, decent schools which may or may not be the best in the area but have good teaching, supportive parents and people who live a little bit further away might have a chance at.

They need to be in reasonable distance of bus or train route from the city centre. I don’t care about the religion of the school (but won’t be applying for a faith place), or ethnic mix (DS one of the 10% white British in primary). DS like rugby, plays an instrument and is part of a scout group (so guess I’m saying he would fit in at most types of schools).

Context:
DS starting secondary September 2021. We apply this year. We have lots of faith schools near us which, between our lack of religious faith, not attending feeder schools and not living within 200m of the school, we have absolutely no hope but will be naming a couple anyways.
We also have three dreadful schools, City, Central and Jewellery Quarter academies, two of which are undergoing a merger (so no idea what’s going to happen there) but we will have to put one down as a banker. DS will be doing 11+ and KES exam. Both are a bit of a stab in the dark and hope for the best but you never know. Plus KES also needs to come with a very very heavily assisted place to be feasible.

Hence, I’m asking if anyone knows/recommends any schools which are a little bit further out (or even a long way out) which would be worth investigating.

Thanks for reading this far, looking forward to your suggestions

Sounds like you might have quite a few options after all!

Yes. I’ll certainly let you know anything I find out.

I see nothing wrong with you not putting your local schools on the preference list and choosing one of the others. Could be a bit risky? But maybe not. If the school you choose as 6th is constantly undersubscribed and you’re happier with that one than your local school you have a good chance.

We’re looking for slightly different things in a school than you are I think. Our top choices are actually KES and Adams Grammar (boarding). Then possibly Old Swinford Hospital (boarding) and looking at local grammars, and for local state schools were looking at KNBS, Bartley Green, UoB and DECS. Then at Bourneville, George Dixon, Lordswood and Shenley for if the KES exam or 11+ doesn’t work out. I was going to have a look at Turves Green as I’d heard it was improving. But that was before the recent OFSTED (inadequate) and learning more about it from parents with DCs there.
(Before it’s said, yes, I know we won’t be in catchment for all of the first 4 comprehensive schools, the list will get narrowed down)

If you have a musical DS some of the schools others have mentioned are definitely worth looking into.

Mein, don't forget KNBS and Bartley Green only go to 16/Y11, so he'll have to move for sixth form. Can't remember about DECS.

@Neim. My phone switched it to mein, sorry fraulein ;-)

If you have a musical DS definitely look at Fairfax. I know a number of children who have got places via the aptitude route. Do not be put off thinking they have to be in every performance/school play. In fact once they start it seems to be forgotten to be honest, so no added pressure on DC.

Surprised people are looking at Shenley. It has a very poor oftsed recently, huge staff turnover and a lot of gang related crime. We are on the same sharing panel as them so do managed moves for students who need a fresh start and there have been a lot of issues over recent years.

@BournvilleGreen I’ll certainly keep that in mind. Although its not too much of a concern. There’s always lots options for 6th form compared to Secondary I feel. DECS has 6th form but very small.

@caulkheaded It’s purely because it’s local. I have no desire to name it unless absolutely necessary, I can’t stand the place if I’m honest, but it stays on the “if I really have to list” unfortunately.

@Neim you must be my neighbour! There’s cheap petrol at the new Sainsbury’s currently!!

Also, I wouldn’t worry too much about a school not having a sixth form. My dd is moving from KEHS by choice for sixth form (she’s enjoyed it though, just wants a change) and ds will probably do the same. Kings Norton Girls has a very high performing mixed sixth form.

Bishop Vesey at Sutton may be possible if you're that way?

I'm a little out of touch as have moved away now, but can you get to Halesowen schools? They always had a good reputation. Not sure if they are oversubscribed. Earls High, Leasowes.

Bishop Vesey doesn't have catchment, so I imagine its cut-off score will shoot up, now that out of authority can't get into KEVI CHB or FW. Will be at least 10 points higher than KEVI Handsworth or Aston.

Yes, Bishop Vesey is another option for you, but it's going to be harder to get into than KE Handsworth. However, if your son does well in the 11 plus, you might want to consider it, depending on how far you are from a train station. My dd has applied there for sixth form; although it's a long way, it's a direct train journey across Birmingham. We really liked the school.

I'm pretty sure Halesowen schools are oversubscribed by the way.

I would second Old Swinford Hospital school as a wild card option. It’s primarily a state boarding school but they offer day and flexibility boarding places. You only pay for the boarding costs and not the education so it’s not as expensive as normal boarding. For a boarding place you may need a good reason for boarding eg parent travelling regularly with work.

KES offer much better bursaries on the whole than Bromsgrove (most of their discounts go to children local to the school, sports scholars or forces families). Whereas KES have a sliding fee scale dependent on family income.

Yes @crazycrofter there is definitely more out there then I initially thought. The pause button on panicking has been pressed (for now aha). My eyes have been opened. Thank you everyone! I’m starting to build up quite a nice little list which doesn’t seem so bad. Now just to start really looking into the schools on the list and going to see them (pressing play on panic again lol)

@Neim thank you for letting me know. Yes, some of those school are a going to be a definite no for us because of distance. Interesting you’re looking at possibly bourneville, lordswood and George Dixon though. I’m not bothering with shenley. It’s too far for the same as what’s on the doorstep.

Boarding isn’t a possibility because of finances. And I don’t think it would suit DS.

@SpaghettiAgain Halesowen is a bit too far for us unfortunately. I’ve had a look, even if it was travelable to the schools are very oversubscribed.

I’ve considered bishop vasey but will depend on 11+ score as you say.

I’m still open to any more suggestions if anyone else has any. The list isn’t fixed. But thank you all for really putting my mind at rest and showing me possibilities.

There is a KES in Stratford upon Avon. Around an hour commute from Moor Street.

I've not seen Wheerlers Lane in Kings Heath mentioned yet. It's a single sex boys school.

You could also look into Henley in Arden secondary. Only 40 odd mins on the train from Moor Street.

Lots of kids seem to get in to Henley that live a fair distance away.

I live in Bromsgrove. It's about a 20 minute walk from the station to Bromsgrove school. I've got one child at a High School and one at a Middle School. Some pupils do leave for Grammars in year 7, but I think you would struggle to get them into a one of the High Schools in year 9. You generally have to live here, I've heard stories of people buying houses to get them into one of the high schools. They are both fair walks from the train station, at least 15 minutes.

@Holidayz not any more.
Henley's catchment has shrunk hugely due to good results.

You need to be in a feeder primary or within 2-3 miles to get in.

OP, KES Stratford is the most difficult Warwickshire grammar to get into, this year's AQS is 234.

Like all Warwickshire schools it goes on score and then distance as to who gets places. There are children with the qualifying score on waiting lists due to distance.

You may well be better trying to move into a B'ham grammar catchment than trying to get into Warwickshire from a distance unless DS is guaranteed a stellar score.

@Holidayz Wheelers Lane wasn't mentioned because the OP has no chance of getting in- the catchment is tiny at the moment, it's outstanding and getting fabulous results.

I did spot this thread is more than 4 years old so I'll probably post a new one - but it would be almost identical to this. I have read it all and it's given me a few ideas.

We're in the city centre and not in the catchment area for any decent secondary schools. So, while we'd prefer to stay put we are considering, moving South of the city or maybe leaving Birmingham entirely.

@HairySandwiches how did things work out for you? Did you manage to stay living in the centre and still get into a school you wanted?