Two Birmingham secondary schools named in England top 10 in ‘most accurate school data since Covid’

The Department of Education (DfE) has released its annual ‘Progress 8’ results to show how children’s secondary schools are faring compared with others.

Due to the impact of Covid on school learning and exams, performance data hasn’t been as accurate in recent years as it previoulsy had been, but the new data released by the DfE gives a more complete picture of how secondary schools are performing.

The Progress 8 figures, which give schools a positive or negative score, measures the progress that pupils make from Key Stage 2 in primary school right up to the end of their GCSEs in Key Stage 4.

A score above zero means pupils have achieved better results on average at their school than at other schools across England that got similar results at the end of Key Stage 2. This means they have achieved an ‘above average’ score. The higher a pupil’s ‘Progress 8’ score, the more progress they have made in comparison with pupils who started at a similar level.

Two Birmingham schools is top 10

The statistics show that Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Small Heath is the 5th best secondary school in England based on Progress 8 results. The school achieved a score of 1.39 above zero. The secondary school for girls aged 11-16 is part of the Eden Star academies - a mixed Multi-Academy Trust that runs a diverse network of primary and secondary schools. As a new school, is is set to have its first Ofsted inspection in the coming months.

The Eden Boys’ School in Perry Barr came one place below in the rankings - at number six - with a score of 1.82 above zero. The school is also part of the Star Academies trust. It had its first inspection by Ofsted in May 2018 and was judged as ‘outstanding’ in all areas and therefore ‘outstanding’ overall.

St Paul’s School for Girls in Edgbaston finished just outside the top 10 in 11th place. It achieved a score of 1.38 above zero. It is a voluntary aided, comprehensive, girls’ school and is the only all girls’ Catholic school in Birmingham. It also became a specialist school in maths and computing in September 2005. The school was also handed an Outstanding rating in its latest inspection. St Paul’s was founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle and remains a great community school today, built on faith and tradition.

England’s top 10

1. The Michaela Community School, London: 2.37 above zero
2. Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School, Blackburn: 2.29 above zero
3. Mercia School, Sheffield: 2.22 above zero
4. The Steiner Academy, Hereford: 2.18 above zero
5. Eden Girls Leadership Academy, Small Heath, Birmingham: 1.39 above zero
6. Eden Boys’ School, Perry Barr, Birmingham: 1.82 above zero
7. Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School, London 1.65 above zero
8. Eden Girls’ School Coventry: 1.47 above zero
9. Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School, Blackburn 1.65 above zero
10. St Peter’s Catholic School, Guilford: 1.46 above zero.

You can see the top 11 Birmingham schools based on the Progress 8 data, here.