St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth

St Michael's CofE Primary Academy in Handsworth has demonstrated outstanding performance across all areas of its operation in this latest inspection. The school has made significant progress since its previous inspection, transforming into a nurturing and ambitious environment for its diverse student body. The dedication of both staff and leaders, alongside strong community involvement, contributes to the impressive achievements of all pupils, particularly those who may join the school at varying points in the year. The school emphasizes high expectations and provides extensive support to ensure every student, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive academically and personally.

Strengths

• Exceptional care and support for every child.
• Strong community and family integration.
• High expectations leading to outstanding academic achievement.
• Effective curriculum that celebrates cultural diversity.
• Successful support for pupils with special educational needs.
• Innovative extracurricular opportunities that enhance student development.

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 St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 1.5% of pupils at St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 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 St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth had 17.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 19.6% of pupils at St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth received £8,083 and spent £7,708 for each of its 205 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £193,000 (£941 per pupil).

Across all 19 schools of Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, income was £7,859 and spending £7,689 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

St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth is part of Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• St George's Church of England Academy, Newtown Birmingham
• Holy Trinity CE Primary Academy (Handsworth) Birmingham
• St George's Church of England Primary School Birmingham
• St Clement's Church of England Academy Birmingham
• Quinton Church Primary School Birmingham
• Nonsuch Primary School Birmingham
• St Michael's Church of England Primary School Birmingham
• St Margaret's Church of England Primary School Solihull
• Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy Birmingham
• Hawkesley Church Primary Academy Birmingham

What is St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth last inspected by Ofsted?

St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth have?

St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth has 204 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth cover?

St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth?

St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Handsworth is at Piers Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B21 0UX.