E-ACT Shenley Academy Review 2026: A Birmingham secondary shaping a fresh phase of improvement

Clear expectations and a strong pastoral spine are the themes that come through most strongly here. The academy’s stated values centre on respect, resilience and responsibility, and formal guidance places punctuality and attendance high on the priority list, with an explicit emphasis on being ready for the day by 08:30.

Leadership has also been in motion. Mr R Rahman is named as headteacher from 01 September 2025 in academy communications, following a leadership announcement earlier in 2025 that set out his start point.

On the accountability picture, the most recent inspection provides the clearest external benchmark. The June 2025 Ofsted inspection recorded Requires Improvement judgements for Quality of Education and Leadership and Management, with Good judgements for Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development; safeguarding was confirmed as effective.

A school’s tone is often set by what it chooses to repeat. At Shenley, published material and routine communications repeatedly return to behaviour standards, consistent routines, and a language of values. Pupils are expected to understand what those values look like in lessons and around the site, and the messaging to families frames uniform, punctuality and daily readiness as part of a purposeful learning culture rather than optional extras.

Pastoral support is a genuine strength in the way it is described and positioned. The June 2025 inspection report highlights that pupils feel safe and that there are trusted adults to speak to about concerns, including worries linked to mental health. That matters in an 11 to 16 setting where many students are navigating adolescence, friendships, online life, and exam pressure simultaneously.

There is also evidence of deliberate efforts to build student voice and responsibility. The inspection report references pupil leadership roles including wellbeing ambassadors, and the school’s own news material shows structured recognition, such as awards linked to the values and small-group rewards activities that reinforce attendance and conduct expectations. For families, the implication is a culture that aims to notice and reward the right behaviours, not only sanction the wrong ones.

Performance indicators show a challenging academic picture that is important to understand in plain terms, especially for parents comparing local options.

In 2024, the academy’s Attainment 8 score was 36.2. Progress 8 was -0.7, which indicates students made substantially less progress than other pupils nationally with similar starting points.

On curriculum breadth and the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) measures, the percentage achieving grade 5 or above across the EBacc pillars is reported at 1.8%, and the average EBacc point score is 2.93.

The FindMySchool GCSE ranking, based on official outcomes data, places the academy 3,557th of 4,593 schools in England included and 94th within Birmingham. In practical terms, that sits below England average. It also frames why the consistency of classroom delivery, assessment and attendance are often the levers that matter most for rapid improvement.

The curriculum intent is broad and clearly mapped. Published curriculum material for Years 7 to 9 lists English, mathematics, science, humanities (geography and history), religious education, a language (French or Spanish), art, computer science, technology and physical education. At Key Stage 4, the core continues with English language and literature, mathematics, statistics, science and physical education, with three options drawn from subjects including history, geography, French, Spanish, art, product design, religious education, health and social care, enterprise and marketing, sports studies, child development, and food preparation and nutrition.

That breadth is useful for mixed-ability intakes because it keeps pathways open. The implication for families is that a student who is still finding their strengths in Year 8 can access a reasonably wide option set later on, including practical and applied routes alongside more traditional GCSE options.

The key risk lies in implementation consistency. The most recent inspection notes that the curriculum is not delivered consistently across subjects, and that classroom assessment does not always identify starting points and gaps precisely enough to shape next steps. For parents, this is the part to interrogate during open events and meetings, particularly in the subjects your child cares about most.

Reading is another stated priority area. The June 2025 report describes raised focus on reading, targeted identification of students needing support, and the fact that some strategies were still recent at the time of inspection. Families with children arriving below age-related expectations in reading should ask specifically about screening, intervention frequency, and how progress is tracked across Key Stage 3.

With the age range set at 11 to 16, the main destination question is post-16 transition rather than university. The most useful evidence here is the structured emphasis on careers and next steps. The June 2025 inspection report references workshops and guest speakers that introduce apprenticeships, alongside visits that help students understand post-16 and longer-term routes.

For parents, the practical implication is to look for a clear, staged pathway from Year 8 onwards, including personal guidance, taster opportunities, and support with applications to sixth forms, colleges, and training providers. It is also worth asking how the academy supports students who are undecided, and how it helps those who need a more supported transition into further education.

Year 7 entry is coordinated through the local authority route rather than direct selection. For Birmingham secondary entry in September 2026, the application window opened on 01 September 2025 and the statutory closing date was 31 October 2025. National Offer Day for Birmingham’s coordinated process is listed as 02 March 2026.

For families still adjusting preferences after the main deadline, Birmingham’s guidance also sets out a closing date for late applications and late changes of preferences of 31 July 2026.

Looking ahead, the academy’s published admission arrangements for the 2027 to 2028 round set out an application period opening on 01 September 2026 and closing on 31 October 2026, with offer notifications issued on 01 March 2027 (or the next working day if 01 March falls on a weekend).

The published admission number in that policy is 180 for Year 7. For parents, the immediate takeaway is to work to the Birmingham deadlines and treat any supplementary paperwork as time-critical, since late or incomplete submissions can affect how criteria are applied.

If you are comparing realistic options across the city, FindMySchool’s map tools are useful for shortlisting schools by travel time and for keeping a clear view of which admissions routes run through Birmingham’s coordinated process versus direct applications.

Pastoral care is positioned as a core strength, and it is described in ways that matter to families: trusted adults, confidence in reporting concerns, and support for mental health worries. That is not a soft extra. It affects attendance, behaviour in lessons, and whether students feel able to engage with learning after a difficult day.

There is also evidence of a structured approach to safety education and local risk awareness, including specific work around knife crime risks and age-appropriate relationships education. For parents, this indicates an approach that tries to be realistic about local pressures rather than ignoring them.

Attendance and punctuality are treated as part of wellbeing as well as standards. Communications stress daily attendance and arriving ready for form time at 08:30, with incentives that reward improved patterns. If your child has a history of school refusal or anxiety-linked absence, it is worth asking how the academy blends firm expectations with supportive reintegration plans.

Co-curricular life looks to be expanding in a deliberate way, with examples that go beyond generic after-school provision. The June 2025 inspection report references a widening of opportunities including craft and music clubs, plus the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and it notes pride in representing the academy in sports competitions such as netball tournaments.

The school’s own publications add useful texture. One newsletter highlights an Eco-Council project portfolio focused on biodiversity, energy reduction and litter campaigns, and notes recognition through a Green Flag Award. That kind of sustained project work tends to suit students who prefer practical action and leadership roles, not only performance-based clubs.

There are also specific enrichment examples that signal partnership working. A spotlight newsletter describes weekly dance technique classes linked to Linden Dance Company, with a stated focus on both physical and psychological wellbeing, and Duke of Edinburgh activity planning that included camping at Hardhurst Farm in the Peak District with structured skills such as first aid, camp-making and cooking, supported by Trekco. The implication for families is that enrichment is not only recreational, it is being used to build confidence, teamwork and wider life skills.

The academy day is published as starting at 08:30. Published guidance states the day ends at 15:15 for Year 7 and 15:00 for Years 8 to 11.

Uniform expectations are clearly articulated, including branded items and specific standards around shoes and presentation. Families should plan for associated costs such as uniform, physical education kit, and optional activities and trips, which vary year to year.

For travel, the academy sits within Birmingham’s established bus network. Families typically assess practicality by bus corridor rather than distance alone, and it is sensible to trial the journey at the same time of day your child would travel, especially in winter.

• Academic outcomes need sustained improvement. The 2024 Progress 8 score of -0.7 indicates students, on average, made less progress than peers with similar starting points. Families should ask what has changed since June 2025, especially in core subjects.

• Curriculum delivery varies by subject. The curriculum plan is broad, but implementation consistency across departments has been identified as an issue. If your child has clear strengths or vulnerabilities in particular subjects, ask targeted questions about teaching approaches and assessment routines in those areas.

• Attendance expectations are firm. The academy places heavy emphasis on punctuality and regular attendance. This suits many students well, but families managing anxiety-linked absence should explore how support and expectations work together in practice.

• Uniform standards are tightly defined. The uniform policy is explicit and the messaging frames it as part of a purposeful culture. Families who prefer a more relaxed approach to uniform should factor this into “fit”.

E-ACT Shenley Academy is in a phase where clarity of expectations, a strong pastoral core, and widening enrichment sit alongside an urgent need to lift academic outcomes and improve consistency in classroom delivery. It will suit families who want a structured 11 to 16 setting, value a clear behaviour and uniform culture, and are prepared to engage actively with the school on progress, attendance and subject-specific support. The key question for most parents will be trajectory, namely what is demonstrably improving since mid-2025, and how quickly those changes translate into better outcomes.