Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #23 in Sheffield public Top 40% UK

The Birley Academy

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

personMr Diarmaid Casey

corporate_fareL.E.A.D. ACADEMY TRUST

location_onSheffield, S12 3BP

language Visit Website phone 1142392531

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,083

trending_up

Attainment 8

37.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#23 in Sheffield

#2,865 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Birley Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Sheffield, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

The Birley Academy is an academy converter in Sheffield, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of L.E.A.D. ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,108 pupils on roll, of whom 36% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.2, placing the school #23 in Sheffield and #2,865 of 3,216 nationally. 27.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 8 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 23.4 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

37.2

Grade 5+ E&M

27.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.5%

Entering EBacc28.80%

EBacc APS3.22

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6.50%

EBacc APS3.29

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.30

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS3.18

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.39

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS3.3

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc58%

EBacc APS3.49

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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

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)73%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships11%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

13 May 2025

Inspection Report

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16 July 2024

Inspection Report

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08 March 2023

Inspection Report

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14 January 2020

Inspection Report

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04 February 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-05-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2023-03-08

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2020-01-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2015-06-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-05-16

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

18.6%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

7.1%(79 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

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 1,108 pupils. During this period, there were 206 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 18.6%, which is above 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)	1,108	206	18.6%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,105	312	28.2%	7.8%	5
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,101	246	22.3%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,091	267	24.5%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,075	241	22.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,085	194	17.9%	6.6%	5
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,083	232	21.4%	6.4%	5
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,076	112	10.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,070	178	16.6%	4.7%	3
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,072	274	25.6%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,074	161	15.0%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,084	120	11.1%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,075	11	1.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,079	97	9.0%	3.9%	3
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,106	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,106	77	7.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,115	72	6.5%	4.2%	5
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,130	27	2.4%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,134	40	3.5%	3.8%	4
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,139	59	5.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,153	34	2.9%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,152	19	1.6%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,155	15	1.3%	3.7%	0

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

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psychology_alt

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 123 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 68 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 39 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 36 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Physical Disability 13 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 4 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.

58.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

58.0%Positive

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

11.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree8%

agree37%

disagree27%

strongly disagree25%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree20%

agree42%

disagree24%

strongly disagree11%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree19%

agree20%

disagree15%

strongly disagree27%

don't know3%

not applicable17%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree18%

agree27%

disagree16%

strongly disagree29%

dont know10%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree18%

agree39%

disagree19%

strongly disagree13%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree43%

disagree14%

strongly disagree20%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree18%

agree43%

disagree24%

strongly disagree13%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree15%

agree59%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree25%

agree62%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree13%

agree30%

disagree25%

strongly disagree20%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes47%

no53%

Top Secondary Schools in Sheffield

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Mercia School

Outstanding

location_on Sheffield, S7 2DY

emoji_events #1 in LA

High Storrs School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S11 7LH

emoji_events #2 in LA

Tapton School & Sixth Form

Outstanding

location_on Sheffield, S10 5RG

emoji_events #3 in LA

Silverdale School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S11 9QH

emoji_events #4 in LA

King Ecgbert School

Outstanding

location_on Sheffield, S17 3QU

emoji_events #5 in LA

Notre Dame High School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S10 3BT

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Sheffield arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

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 Sheffield

Mercia School

High Storrs School

Tapton School & Sixth Form

Silverdale School

King Ecgbert School

Notre Dame High School