Plantsbrook School

Plantsbrook School continues to uphold the standards set during its previous inspection, demonstrating effective leadership and a strong commitment to raising achievement for all pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs. The school fosters a positive and inclusive atmosphere where students feel safe and engaged in their learning. With a focus on extracurricular opportunities and a supportive environment, pupils are encouraged to thrive both academically and personally.

Strengths

• Strong sense of belonging and togetherness among students
• Ambitious for all pupils, including those with SEND
• High attendance rates and exemplary conduct reported by pupils
• Well-designed curriculum that supports knowledge retention
• Effective systems for identifying and supporting pupils needing additional help
• Good management of attendance with a holistic approach
• High-quality careers advice and guidance for students
• Supportive and enriching experience for sixth-form students

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent use of assessments to identify and address pupils' misconceptions
• Some gaps in knowledge among pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils

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 Plantsbrook School attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 19.8% 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, 4.5% of pupils at Plantsbrook School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). One pupil was 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 Plantsbrook School had 16.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.0% 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, 14.1% of pupils at Plantsbrook School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has resourced provision with 3 pupils.

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 2024–25 Plantsbrook School received £7,421 and spent £7,273 for each of its 1,572 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,766,000 (£1,759 per pupil).

Across all 3 schools of Broadleaf Partnership Trust, income was £8,316 and spending £8,118 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Sutton Coldfield · Birmingham local authority: places and applications

Plantsbrook School is part of Broadleaf Partnership Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Town House Primary School Sutton Coldfield
• New Oscott Primary School Sutton Coldfield
• Court Farm Primary School Birmingham
• Perryfields Academy Oldbury

What is Plantsbrook School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Plantsbrook School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Plantsbrook School last inspected by Ofsted?

Plantsbrook School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Plantsbrook School have?

Plantsbrook School has 1,574 pupils on roll.

What age range does Plantsbrook School cover?

Plantsbrook School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Plantsbrook School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 49.1, and 55% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Plantsbrook School?

Plantsbrook School is at Upper Holland Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1RB.