Aston Fields Middle School

Aston Fields Middle School is performing exceptionally well. Inspectors found a strong sense of community and mutual respect, with pupils achieving well in a purposeful environment where behaviour is exemplary and attendance is exceptionally high. The curriculum is highly ambitious for all pupils, including those with SEND, and teachers use effective recall and assessment strategies to help pupils remember and build on their learning. The school's personal development provision is a particular strength, with pupils receiving extensive careers, cultural and leadership experiences, and older pupils supporting younger peers as well-being mentors. Reading and SEND support are effective, and safeguarding arrangements are secure. Leadership, including governance, is strong and well attuned to the local context, with a well-received staff development programme and attention to workload and well-being. This was the school's first routine inspection since 2014, and it has undergone significant leadership and staffing changes since then, including the appointment of the current headteacher in February 2023. All key judgments were outstanding, and no areas of concern were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with SEND
• Effective lesson activities that help pupils recall and build on prior learning
• Teachers check understanding well and adapt teaching to help each pupil achieve
• Strong support for pupils with SEND so they access the same ambitious curriculum
• Quick identification and effective support for pupils who are not confident readers
• Exceptionally strong wider reading provision across all year groups
• Exemplary pupil behaviour, focus and engagement in learning
• Calm, orderly and respectful social times
• Exceptionally high overall attendance
• Exceptional personal development and preparation for life beyond school
• Extensive careers, cultural and leadership experiences from Year 5 onwards
• Comprehensive PSHE programme covering safety, relationships and independence
• Strong leadership and governance with a deep understanding of local context
• Well-thought-out professional development programme welcomed by staff
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Aston Fields Middle School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.7% of pupils at Aston Fields Middle School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Aston Fields Middle School had 18.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.9% of pupils at Aston Fields Middle School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Aston Fields Middle School received £6,622 and spent £6,670 for each of its 599 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £120,000 (-£200 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bromsgrove · Worcestershire local authority: places and applications

What is Aston Fields Middle School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Aston Fields Middle School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Aston Fields Middle School last inspected by Ofsted?

Aston Fields Middle School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Aston Fields Middle School have?

Aston Fields Middle School has 598 pupils on roll.

What age range does Aston Fields Middle School cover?

Aston Fields Middle School for pupils aged 9 to 13.

What are Aston Fields Middle School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Aston Fields Middle School?

Aston Fields Middle School is at Drummond Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 2ET.