Aldridge School - A Science College
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,629 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.2
Academy converter
Shire Oak Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,149of 1,491 places
- Free school meals
- 44.8%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 244
- Ofsted
- Inspected, 21 January 2025Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Shire Oak School (A Science College) (URN 104260, until 1 April 2011).
What the data says
Of the 241 pupils who finished Year 11 at Shire Oak Academy in 2023, 35% stayed on in Shire Oak Academy’s own sixth form (Walsall average 43%), 44% went to a further education college and 2% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 114 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 47% went to university (Walsall 35%, England 37%), and 6% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were well below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 35.0 against 46.1 across England and 43.0 in Walsall, with 26% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average C, well below the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Geography, Biology and Mathematics.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Walsall and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Shire Oak Academy | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 241 | 3,611 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 86% | 90% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 80% | 85% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 35% | 43% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 44% | 41% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 1% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 5% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 8% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 6% | 4% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Shire Oak Academy | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 114 | 3,439 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 83% | 75% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 47% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 6% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 25% | 24% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 12% | 19% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Shire Oak Academy | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 35.0 | 43.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 26% | 39% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 42% | 57% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 3% | 36% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 2.90 | 3.77 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 38% | 40% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 25.0 | 34.4 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 41.1 | 48.6 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 3% | 21% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 242 | 99% | 89% | 9% | 20% | 50% |
| Mathematics | 241 | 99% | 88% | 7% | 22% | 49% |
| English Literature | 237 | 97% | 86% | 8% | 21% | 57% |
| Combined Science | 202 | 83% | 65% | 2% | 9% | 34% |
| Geography | 143 | 59% | 41% | 13% | 25% | 40% |
| History | 80 | 33% | 41% | 13% | 26% | 43% |
| Psychology | 56 | 23% | 3% | 4% | 22% | 34% |
| Chemistry | 37 | 15% | 23% | 35% | 47% | 78% |
| Biology | 37 | 15% | 23% | 27% | 45% | 76% |
| Physics | 37 | 15% | 23% | 19% | 46% | 73% |
| Computer Science | 24 | 10% | 13% | 8% | 30% | 46% |
| Photography | 21 | 9% | 6% | 19% | 19% | 90% |
| Fine Art | 21 | 9% | 9% | 48% | 28% | 95% |
| Physical Education | 17 | 7% | 11% | 12% | 24% | 94% |
| French | 13 | 5% | 18% | 23% | 29% | 69% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 6 | 2% | 8% | 17% | 21% | 50% |
| Music | 4 | 2% | 5% | — | 33% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
| Religious Studies | 1 | 0% | 31% | — | 32% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Studies | 80 | 100% | — |
| Retailing | 52 | 78% | — |
| Health Studies | 37 | 55% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 34 | 51% | — |
| Sports Studies | 24 | 36% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 16 | 24% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 10 | 15% | — |
| Tourism | 5 | 7% | — |
| Health Studies | 1 | 1% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Shire Oak Academy | Walsall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 139 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 67 | 1,281 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 28.68 | 33.52 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | 18 | 27% | 10% |
| Biology | 16 | 24% | 20% |
| Mathematics | 15 | 22% | 31% |
| Sociology | 13 | 19% | 13% |
| Product Design | 11 | 16% | 2% |
| Chemistry | 11 | 16% | 17% |
| Psychology | 9 | 13% | 23% |
| History | 9 | 13% | 13% |
| Computer Science | 8 | 12% | 5% |
| English Literature | 7 | 10% | 11% |
| Photography | 7 | 10% | 3% |
| English Language | — | — | 4% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Economics | — | — | 13% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Politics | — | — | 6% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 28 | 42% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 15 | 22% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 13 | 19% | — |
| Multimedia | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 12% | — |
| Medical Science | VRQ Level 3 | 8 | 12% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 8 | 12% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 7 | 10% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Walsall
Barr Beacon School
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90% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.0
Bloxwich Academy
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79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 32.9
Blue Coat Church of England Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 972 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.4
Brownhills Ormiston Academy
Academy converter · 778 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.1
Grace Academy Darlaston
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,059 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.2
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.