Gossey Lane Academy Review 2026: A primary where behaviour and personal development stand out

A calm, purposeful feel runs through this Kitts Green primary, with a strong emphasis on respect and inclusion. In the most recent graded inspection (June 2025), the judgements were Good for quality of education and early years, Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes, Outstanding for personal development, and Good for leadership and management.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 outcomes (based on the latest published results in your dataset) sit above England averages on the measures parents tend to care about most, particularly the combined reading, writing and mathematics standard. In FindMySchool’s primary performance ranking, it sits comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England, which translates as above-average performance at a national level, with a solid local position within Birmingham.

This is also a school with clear demand pressure at entry. For the most recent Reception entry-route figures in your dataset, there were 51 applications for 13 offers, which is close to four applications per place. That context matters, because admissions are usually the biggest practical challenge for families who want this option.

The tone here is built around fairness and belonging. The school’s language of values is not abstract; official review material highlights pupils describing a kind, welcoming atmosphere and a strong sense of being treated equally regardless of background. That shows up most sharply in how pupils talk about one another and how adults respond to worries. The same source points to pupils being encouraged to express feelings and concerns, with adults taking those worries seriously, so that pupils feel happy and safe.

Behaviour is a defining feature. Expectations are set early and reinforced consistently, and the effect is visible in routines, movement around the building, and how older pupils act as role models to younger pupils. For many families, especially those prioritising a settled learning environment, that combination is a major reason to look closely at the school.

Leadership context is also worth understanding. Gossey Lane Academy is part of Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust, with governance and improvement support sitting at trust level as well as school level. The headteacher is Sarah Amin. (A publicly verifiable appointment start date was not available from accessible official sources in this research pass, so it is not stated here.)

Because the school admits from age 3, early years matter to the overall feel. External review material describes children settling quickly into routines and building strong relationships, which then carries forward into the wider school culture. For families comparing nurseries and school-based nursery classes, that emphasis on routines and relationships is often a practical differentiator, particularly for children who benefit from predictable structures.

The strongest headline for a state primary is the combined reading, writing and mathematics measure at the end of Year 6. In the latest published dataset results, 74.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 62%.

At the higher standard, 20.67% achieved greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. That gap is meaningful because it suggests the school is supporting a sizeable group of pupils to go beyond the basics, not only pushing borderline pupils over the expected threshold.

Scaled scores add useful texture. Reading is 106, mathematics is 107, and grammar, punctuation and spelling is 110. Those figures typically align with a school where the basics of literacy are being taken seriously, and where spelling and sentence accuracy are a consistent focus.

Rankings are never the whole story, but they help parents benchmark quickly. In FindMySchool’s proprietary ranking (based on official data), Gossey Lane Academy is ranked 2539th in England for primary outcomes and 45th within Birmingham, placing it above England average and comfortably within the top quarter nationally.

A sensible way to use this is comparative rather than absolute. If you are weighing several Birmingham primaries, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can help you view these metrics side by side without relying on reputation alone.

The academic picture here is anchored in clear curriculum thinking rather than narrow test preparation. Formal review evidence points to an ambitious, broad curriculum with defined knowledge sequencing from early years onwards, with strong subject knowledge in many areas. The practical implication for pupils is less stop-start learning and more deliberate building of concepts over time, which tends to matter most in reading, writing and mathematics, but also in foundation subjects where knowledge can otherwise feel fragmented.

Reading is positioned as a core strength. Formal commentary describes staff teaching early reading well, with books matched closely to the sounds pupils know, and extra support being put in quickly for pupils who struggle so they can catch up. For parents, this usually means two things. First, children who need structure to become fluent readers are likely to get it. Second, families who want a school where reading practice is systematic, not left to chance, will see this as a positive.

There is also a realistic improvement edge to the teaching story. Review evidence points to some inconsistency in curriculum delivery and in checking pupils’ mistakes in written work, leading to repeated errors not always being addressed promptly. That is not a minor detail, because it affects how quickly pupils build accuracy in writing and how securely knowledge is retained. For parents, it is a good question to explore during a visit: how does the school ensure written misconceptions are caught early and corrected consistently across classes?

Early years provision is judged Good in the latest graded inspection cycle, and the narrative around routines and relationships suggests the nursery and Reception experience is structured and purposeful. If your child is starting at age 3, the key practical point is continuity: a school-based nursery can ease the transition into Reception, but nursery attendance does not usually provide automatic priority for Reception admission under local authority rules, so admissions planning still matters.

As a primary, the “destination” question is about transition to secondary school and the habits pupils take with them. The most useful evidence here is behavioural and pastoral: pupils are described as respectful, calm in movement, and supported to raise worries with adults. Those are protective factors during Year 6 and the move to Year 7, because children who can manage routines, follow expectations, and seek help early tend to settle more quickly into the larger, less sheltered secondary environment.

On local progression, Birmingham families typically consider a mix of non-selective secondaries and selective routes depending on the child and family priorities. Gossey Lane sits in an area where families often explore several nearby options, so it is worth using an evidence-led shortlist process rather than relying on hearsay. If your plan depends heavily on a particular Year 7 option, check the admissions criteria and travel time early, because Birmingham allocation patterns can shift year to year.

This is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Entry is shaped by local authority admissions coordination and by the practical realities of demand.

The demand signal in your dataset is clear. For the most recent Reception entry-route figures provided, there were 51 applications and 13 offers, giving a subscription proportion of 3.92, and the entry route is recorded as oversubscribed. That kind of ratio typically means families should treat it as a high-competition option, even if the child already attends nursery provision locally.

For September 2026 Reception entry (children born 01 September 2021 to 31 August 2022), Birmingham’s published timeline commonly used across local school admissions information is: applications open 01 October 2025, close 15 January 2026, and offers are released 16 April 2026, with the refusal deadline 30 April 2026 and appeals deadline 15 May 2026. These dates are especially important for families moving house, because waiting until after a move can force a late application, and late applications can reduce the chance of being offered a preferred school.

This school’s published dataset does not include a last distance offered figure, so it is not sensible to infer how tight the local allocation radius may be. If you are planning around proximity, use a precise measurement tool rather than estimating. FindMySchool’s Map Search is designed for that type of check, but you should still confirm the relevant admissions arrangements for the intake year you are applying for, because criteria and tie-breaks can change.

Nursery entry sits alongside Reception entry as a separate practical question. Nursery places can be a good way to test fit, but families should treat Reception as its own admissions step and plan accordingly.

Pastoral care appears to be one of the school’s strongest drivers of daily experience. The evidence base points to pupils feeling safe, adults addressing worries, and a culture where older pupils model positive conduct for younger pupils. For parents, that can translate into fewer “grey area” behaviour issues that disrupt learning, and a clearer route for children to seek help when something feels off.

Attendance is treated as a serious priority, with systems described for identifying and responding quickly when attendance is not meeting expectations. That matters because attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic progress at primary age, particularly in reading where small daily gaps compound quickly.

Provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is referenced positively in external review evidence, including support that helps pupils access learning with confidence and feel included and valued. For parents of children with additional needs, the right next step is to ask how support is implemented class-by-class, and how the school communicates targets and progress without burying you in jargon.

Wraparound provision is available, with breakfast and after-school clubs operating on site. Exact timings and booking arrangements should be confirmed directly with the school, as those operational details can change across the year.

This is an area where the school offers specific, named options rather than generic “lots of clubs” claims. Formal review material lists a range of clubs including art, dodgeball, cadets and choir. That spread matters for different reasons. Art and choir provide creative outlets and a public-performance element that can build confidence. Dodgeball is an accessible entry point for pupils who may not enjoy traditional team sports. Cadets often appeal to children who like structure, responsibility, and team identity.

There is also evidence of pupil leadership roles that are intentionally practical. The examples given include playground champions and a group called Gossey Gardeners. Those are not token titles; they usually represent real responsibilities linked to behaviour culture and pride in the environment. For children who respond well to being trusted with a job, roles like these can be a turning point in confidence and belonging, especially for pupils who do not immediately stand out academically.

For families weighing “fit”, this is the question to ask: do the clubs and responsibilities feel like an add-on, or are they integrated into school life in a way that supports behaviour and attendance? The available evidence suggests integration, with activities described as accessible and tied to leadership development.

This is a primary school in Kitts Green, Birmingham, serving pupils from nursery age through Year 6. The school is part of a multi-academy trust, so some policies and improvement work are supported at trust level.

Breakfast and after-school clubs run on site, which can help working families reduce the need for separate childcare arrangements. Exact start and finish times for the school day, and wraparound hours, should be confirmed directly with the school, as these details are operational and can change.

For travel, many families in the area will use a mix of walking and local bus routes depending on distance and work patterns. If you drive, plan for typical peak-time congestion around drop-off and pick-up, and check the school’s guidance on safe parking and walking routes.

• Competition for places. The most recent Reception entry-route figures provided show close to four applications per offer. If you are aiming for September entry, treat deadlines as non-negotiable and keep alternative options on your list.

• Teaching consistency. Official review evidence points to some variability in curriculum delivery and in how consistently mistakes in written work are checked and corrected. This is worth exploring in conversation with staff, especially if your child needs tight feedback loops to thrive.

• Nursery does not remove admissions risk. A nursery place can support transition and help you understand fit, but families should plan for Reception admissions as a separate process under local authority coordination.

• Wraparound details need checking. Breakfast and after-school clubs exist, but times, costs, and places available can change across the year, so confirm early if childcare is a deciding factor.

Gossey Lane Academy looks strongest for families who value a settled, respectful culture and who want primary outcomes that sit above England averages, without losing sight of personal development and pupil leadership. Behaviour and pupils’ wider development are particular strengths on the most recent official evidence, and the school’s club offer includes specific, accessible options that go beyond the basics.

Who it suits: local families seeking a structured, values-led primary with a calm learning environment, and parents who appreciate both academic progress and character-building opportunities. The main challenge is admissions competition, so a realistic shortlist and early planning are essential.