Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #26 in Birmingham public Top 16% UK

Fairfax

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Sean Castle

corporate_fareFAIRFAX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onSutton Coldfield, B75 7JT

language Visit Website phone 1213781288

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,570

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.1

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GCSE Rank

#25 in Birmingham

#1,055 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Fairfax is a Academy converter secondary school in Sutton Coldfield, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Fairfax is an academy converter in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of FAIRFAX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,571 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.1, placing the school #25 in Birmingham and #1,055 of 3,216 nationally. 52.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 17.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 17 A-level subjects. 49.0% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 21.1% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.38 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 5 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

49.1

Grade 5+ E&M

52.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)17.4%

Entering EBacc28.60%

EBacc APS4.32

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28.30%

EBacc APS4.3

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41%

EBacc APS4.25

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc60%

EBacc APS4.71

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc71%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS4.58

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.03

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc72%

EBacc APS4.35

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.38

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*6.5%

Achieving A*–A21.1%

Achieving A*–B49.0%

VA Banding Well above average

Retention rate95.8%

A-level subjects offered17

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.25

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

119

Retention rate99.20%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

124

Retention rate99.20%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

128

Retention rate97.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 May 2024

Inspection Report

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19 March 2019

Inspection Report

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12 January 2016

Inspection Report

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07 October 2014

Inspection Report

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28 March 2014

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-05-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-03-19

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-01-12

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2011-02-10

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-03-05

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.5%(23 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,571 pupils. During this period, there were 28 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.8%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,571	28	1.8%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,575	32	2.0%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,561	55	3.5%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,565	32	2.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,576	19	1.2%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,570	42	2.7%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,570	51	3.2%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,578	36	2.3%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,572	32	2.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,583	52	3.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,581	69	4.4%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,587	59	3.7%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,576	13	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,591	42	2.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,562	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,562	68	4.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,562	112	7.2%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,472	68	4.6%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,471	45	3.1%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,472	26	1.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,415	50	3.5%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,429	34	2.4%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,428	78	5.5%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,398	65	4.6%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,407	56	4.0%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,419	63	4.4%	3.1%	3

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Other Difficulty/Disability 60 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 50 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 43 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 30 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 16 pupils

Physical Disability 11 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree32%

agree50%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree24%

agree44%

disagree23%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree39%

agree27%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree29%

agree46%

disagree15%

strongly disagree8%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree39%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree46%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree39%

agree46%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree54%

disagree7%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree46%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree37%

agree43%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes88%

no12%

Top Secondary Schools in Birmingham

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

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Outstanding

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King Edward VI Five Ways School

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King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

Outstanding

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Birmingham

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

King Edward VI Five Ways School

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

King Edward VI Handsworth School