Aston University Engineering Academy

Aston University Engineering Academy is performing strongly across various domains, with pupils making good progress through the curriculum. The school emphasizes high-quality education, and its inclusive approach ensures that students, including those with special educational needs and disadvantages, receive the necessary support to succeed. Despite this, there are areas for refinement, particularly in ensuring depth in students' knowledge as they advance through their studies. The overall environment is positive, with strong relationships between staff and students, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

Strengths

• Strong progress for all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged students.
• High-quality teaching across the curriculum.
• Well-structured support for attendance and behavior.
• Inclusive environment that celebrates diversity.
• Effective leadership with a clear vision for improvement.
• Excellent personal development programs, including preparation for modern life.

Areas for Improvement

• Need to refine teaching for deeper understanding as pupils progress.

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 University Engineering Academy attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 22.1% 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, 4.7% of pupils at Aston University Engineering Academy 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 University Engineering Academy had 17.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.1% 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, 6.1% of pupils at Aston University Engineering Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 0.8% 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 2024–25 Aston University Engineering Academy received £9,074 and spent £9,051 for each of its 875 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,669,000 (£1,907 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 Birmingham · Birmingham local authority: places and applications

Aston University Engineering Academy is part of Aston University Stem Education Academy Trust, which runs 2 schools. The nearest others:

• Aston University Mathematics School Birmingham

What is Aston University Engineering Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Aston University Engineering Academy is Strong standard, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Aston University Engineering Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Aston University Engineering Academy was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Aston University Engineering Academy have?

Aston University Engineering Academy has 1,010 pupils on roll.

What age range does Aston University Engineering Academy cover?

Aston University Engineering Academy for pupils aged 13 to 19.

Where is Aston University Engineering Academy?

Aston University Engineering Academy is at 1 Lister Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B7 4AG.