St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Wychall Lane Kings Norton Birmingham West Midlands B38 8AP |
| Phone | 01214644643 |
| Reference Number | 141835 |
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School remains a good school that upholds high aspirations for all its pupils, including those with special educational needs and disadvantaged backgrounds. The school fosters an inclusive environment where students are motivated to excel academically and personally, benefiting from a well-structured curriculum that emphasizes broad learning experiences. The positive relationships between staff and students contribute to a calm learning atmosphere, while extra-curricular opportunities enrich their educational journey. However, there are some concerns regarding a small number of pupils who struggle with behavior expectations.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1190 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 52.77%
Girls: 47.23% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 47.1% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 18.9% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 23.1 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 109 | 108 | 217 |
| 8 | 103 | 101 | 204 |
| 9 | 121 | 93 | 214 |
| 10 | 107 | 91 | 198 |
| 11 | 106 | 83 | 189 |
| 12 | 52 | 51 | 103 |
| 13 | 30 | 35 | 65 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 43.5% |
| African | 14.3% |
| Unclassified | 6.6% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 5.8% |
| Caribbean | 4.9% |
| White, Other | 4.7% |
| Indian | 3.4% |
| Chinese | 2.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.4% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.8% |
| White & Asian | 1.6% |
| Pakistani | 1.2% |
| Asian, Other | 0.7% |
| Irish | 0.6% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 01 May 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 01 May 2024 | School inspection |
| 07 Nov 2018 | Full inspection: |
| 08 Apr 2015 | Academy conversion letter |
| 27 Sep 2011 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School | |
| 27 Sep 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 25 Apr 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Apr 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 22 Mar 2004 | Full inspection |
| 22 Mar 2004 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong commitment to high ambitions for all students.
- Effective support and provision for students with SEND.
- Rigorous curriculum with high expectations across all subjects.
- Staff possess strong subject knowledge and implement the curriculum effectively.
- Prominent focus on personal development and life skills.
- Positive relationships and respectful behavior among students.
Areas for Improvement
- A small number of pupils struggle to meet behavior expectations, leading to repeated suspensions.
- Not all Year 9 pupils study a full range of subjects due to the current option choices structure.
Ofsted Parent View
The latest published parent view scores are from 2018. Ofsted only publish scores if there have been more than 10 responses to the survey.
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | Don't Know | Total Responses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. My child is happy at this school | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 2. My child feels safe at this school | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 3. My child makes good progress at this school | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 4. My child is well looked after at this school | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 5. My child is taught well at this school | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 6. My child receives appropriate homework for their age | 24 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 7. This school makes sure its pupils are well behaved | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 8. This school deals effectively with bullying | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 33 |
| 9. This school is well led and managed | 23 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 |
| 10. This school responds well to any concerns I raise | 24 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 33 |
| 11. I receive valuable information from the school about my child’s progress | 24 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 12. Would you recommend this school to another parent? | 32 | 1 |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 49.9 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49.5% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 65.3% |
Attainment 8 Score
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 34.92 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 37.74 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | C+ | C | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | B- | C+ | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 16.1% |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 166 | 30 |
| Third Preference | 161 | 9 |
| From another Local Authority | 6 | 4 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
Wychall Primary School
Middle Field Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 3EH |
0.17 miles |
|
Fairway Primary Academy
Muirfield Gardens, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 8XQ |
0.41 miles |
|
Kings Norton Nursery School
Westhill Road, Birmingham, B38 8SY |
0.54 miles |
|
St Laurence Church Junior School
Bunbury Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 2DJ |
0.73 miles |
|
St Laurence Church Infant School
Bunbury Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 2DJ |
0.73 miles |
|
West Heath Primary School
Rednal Road, West Heath Primary, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 8HU |
0.78 miles |
|
Kings Norton Primary School
Pershore Road South, Kings Norton, Kings Norton Primary School, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 3EU |
0.84 miles |
|
West Heath Nursery School
200 West Heath Road, Birmingham, B31 3HB |
0.88 miles |
|
St Francis Church of England Aided Primary School and Nursery
Teazel Avenue, Bournville, St Francis Church of England Aided Primary School and Nursery, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 1LZ |
0.94 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Selly Oak Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 1HN |
1.01 miles |
|
St Paul's Catholic Primary School
Sisefield Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 9JB |
1.15 miles |
|
Cotteridge Primary School
Breedon Road, Cotteridge, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 2HT |
1.16 miles |
|
Bellfield Infant School (NC)
Vineyard Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 1PT |
1.18 miles |
|
Bellfield Junior School
Vineyard Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 1PT |
1.18 miles |
|
Turves Green Primary School
Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 4BP |
1.18 miles |
|
Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children
Bell Hill, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 1LD |
1.19 miles |
|
Hawkesley Church Primary Academy
376 Shannon Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 9TR |
1.2 miles |
|
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School
Frankley Beeches Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 5AB |
1.25 miles |
|
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School
Alvechurch Road, West Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 3PN |
1.25 miles |
|
Broadmeadow Junior School
Monyhull Hall Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 3QJ |
1.36 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys
Northfield Road, King's Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 1DY |
0.55 miles |
|
Kings Norton Girls' School
Selly Oak Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 1HW |
0.92 miles |
|
Bournville School
Hay Green Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 1SH |
1.01 miles |
|
Ark Kings Academy
Shannon Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 9DE |
1.06 miles |
|
King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls
Turves Green, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 4BP |
1.06 miles |
|
Victoria School
Bell Hill, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 1LD |
1.2 miles |
|
New Ways School
300 Redhill road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 9EL |
1.21 miles |
|
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School
Woodbrooke Road, Bournville, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 1UL |
1.25 miles |
|
Turves Green Boys' School
Turves Green, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 4BS |
1.25 miles |
|
Maple House School
Maple House, Maple Road, Bournville, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 2AE |
1.59 miles |
|
Fircroft College of Adult Education
1018 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 6LH |
1.61 miles |
|
Lindsworth School
Monyhull Hall Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 3QA |
1.76 miles |
|
Selly Oak Trust School
Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 6HZ |
1.77 miles |
|
The University of Birmingham School
Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6QU |
1.82 miles |
|
E-ACT Shenley Academy
Shenley Lane, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 4HE |
1.85 miles |
|
Selly Park Girls' School
5 Selly Park Road, Selly Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 7PH |
2.2 miles |
|
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B14 7QJ |
2.39 miles |
|
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B14 7QJ |
2.39 miles |
|
Colmers School and Sixth Form College
Bristol Road South, Rednal, Birmingham, West Midlands, B45 9NY |
2.54 miles |
|
King Edward VI Five Ways School
Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B32 4BT |
2.67 miles |