Sutton Coldfield secondary schools

[Mamasuzette]

We are looking at houses in Sutton Coldfield. The areas we are interested in are Little Aston and Four Oaks. They are both lovely places to live (we are only a few miles away currently). The thing that concerns me is the secondary school catchment.

Our daughter will be applying for Sutton Girls and Queen Mary’s which are both Grammar schools, but obviously there are no guarantees that she will get a place at either of them.

From what I’ve heard, Arthur Terry is the best comprehensive school in the area. How close do we have to be to get a place there? I’ve heard it’s extremely oversubscribed. Specifically which roads in Four Oaks would we need to be on to stand a good chance?

We actually prefer Little Aston, but I don’t think it falls in the AT catchment area? It’s about 1.2 miles away. I don’t know which other secondary schools she would get into from there. We have friends who have children at Aldridge comp which we wouldn’t mind (but i think we are out of the catchment area for there). St Francis is another one, but we aren’t Catholic so it would be doubtful she would get a place there either. We REALLY don’t want Streetly comp.

Can anyone in the area advise?

thanks xx

I can't comment on specific roads sorry.
We currently live in Whitehouse Common area of s/c and I don't think you'd go wrong with Fairfax, Plantsbrook and up and coming John Wilmott. All are good secondary schools.
Catchment area for AT is very small and you'll pay a premium for an average house and if your child doesn't get in there or one of the grammar schools your options will be limited.

Thanks @lingmerth
I have heard of Plantsbrook but don’t know anyone who’s children have gone there so no idea about it’s reputation.
I have family members who went to Fairfax, but Walmley way is too far away from where we want to be (we are currently in Streetly) and need to stay close because of work/DDS primary school.

We are concerned about potentially buying in Four Oaks because for Arthur Terry, with no guarantee of DD getting in, especially as you get so little for your money there.

I’ve heard horror stories about people not getting into any of their choices and ending up being offered a place somewhere awful and miles away. I’m conscious that we really need to get this right.

This is the risk you take when trying to aim for one school in particular.
I think you need to do some research about the other schools and catchment areas. Where we live is a really nice part of Sutton and nearer to Four Oaks than Walmley.
Remember your son won't always be at Primary school and will need a secondary school at some point.
On Facebook there's a Sutton Coldfield community page where people ask questions just like what you're asking. Might be worth joining it.

@Mamasuzette I'm afraid I also don't know about exactly how close you have to live to be confident of a place at Arthur Terry, but I would expect the local authority admissions department could give 'furthest distance from school' info for the past few years, to give you an idea.@lingmerth has given good advice.

I know someone with a child at Plantsbrook and they are very happy with the school, and I know another family who have chosen Plantsbrook over Arthur Terry.

All of the the Sutton Coldfield secondary schools are good, even John Wilmott which has improved greatly in the pat few years and in my view suffers from people with long memories. It's being rebranded to The Royal Sutton School.

The horror stories from years ago were caused by parents leaving John Wilmott off their CAF entirely instead of sensibly using it as their banker school. Many of them ended up at what was then Great Barr Academy.

I would stay within a mile radius of Arthur Terry if you want to go there. That would include a lot of lovely houses, so I can't see it being a problem. I don't think Little Aston is great for transport, so this area is probably more convenient anyway.

Should add, that I have a child at Plantsbrook and I don't rate it at all since the new Head started.

No specific advice but my brother/SIL live in Four Oaks and SIL is very concerned they are in a black spot for secondary schools as you describe.

I'm an ex Queen Mary's student myself, so I wish your daughter well with the exam. Best times of my life!

Here is the document with the cut off distances for Birmingham OP: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/24941/secondary_schools_admissions_criteria.pdf

It looks as though 2000m (straight line distance) was near enough for a place in 2021, but it was more like 1600m in 2022 and 2023. You can use websites like https://www.gps-coordinates.net/distance to get a rough idea of how far the areas you are interested in are in a straight line from the school.

@ThatBeverleyMacca thank you, that’s really helpful 😊

Hi there
No real advice on what schools are in AT catchment, you can call BCC school admissions who will give you the distance in metres and also last cut off offered this year.
Where we are in Mere Green, we would have gotten a place but this year my DS wasn’t offered and he got his sixth choice. We were shocked. Knew situation with secondary schools in Sutton was bad but not this bad!
DS also did grammar test and passed. I only out BV down as didn’t want him travelling to far to other GS’s. He didn’t get into that but is on the waiting list.
He’s started Royal Sutton and seems to be settling in well. He’s been offered Fairfax now but we’re thinking to keep him where he is at RS.
It’s a huge stress and really seems like the lottery, I’m sure you’ll make the right decision for your family.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/29016/primary_offers_2023

plantsbrook recently was 1200 m

Distance is as the crow flies

My nieces are flying at streetly academy.