South Bromsgrove High

South Bromsgrove High has maintained a good level of effectiveness since its last inspection 11 years ago, where it was previously rated outstanding. The school is characterized by high aspirations shared among leaders and students, resulting in a positive and purposeful atmosphere conducive to learning. The sixth-form provision stands out with exceptional support and engagement for students, reflecting the school's commitment to personal development and a rich extracurricular program. However, the school faces challenges with certain pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils, who have missed significant school time, impacting their overall progress and achievement.

Strengths

• High aspirations shared among leaders and students
• Strong support and engagement in the sixth-form provision
• Warm and courteous relationships between pupils and staff
• Well-thought-out curriculum that enables pupils to achieve well
• Extensive support strategies for pupils needing help with reading
• Effective safeguarding culture embedded in the school
• Strong participation in extra-curricular activities like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistency in assessment practices for Year 9
• Attendance issues among SEND and 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 South Bromsgrove High attended 90.2% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 28.5% 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, 6.5% of pupils at South Bromsgrove High 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 South Bromsgrove High had 17.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.2% 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, 8.2% of pupils at South Bromsgrove High were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.1% 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 South Bromsgrove High received £7,816 and spent £7,782 for each of its 1,355 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,017,000 (£751 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 Bromsgrove · Worcestershire local authority: places and applications

What is South Bromsgrove High's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for South Bromsgrove High is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

When was South Bromsgrove High last inspected by Ofsted?

South Bromsgrove High was last inspected in June 2023.

How many pupils does South Bromsgrove High have?

South Bromsgrove High has 1,317 pupils on roll.

What age range does South Bromsgrove High cover?

South Bromsgrove High for pupils aged 13 to 18.

Where is South Bromsgrove High?

South Bromsgrove High is at Charford Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 3NL.