St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Birmingham Review 2026: High-performing Church school with CAP values and a research-led profile

This is a Church of England primary in Nechells that combines extremely strong end of Key Stage 2 outcomes with a clear moral vocabulary. The school’s stated values are Courage, Attainment and Pride, often shortened to CAP, and that language is reinforced through daily routines and expectations.

On results alone, it stands comfortably above the England picture. In 2024, 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 25.67% met the threshold, compared with 8% across England.

The most recent inspection is under the post-September 2024 framework, so there is no single overall grade. The January 2025 inspection graded Quality of education and Leadership and management as Good; Behaviour and attitudes and Personal development as Outstanding; Early years provision as Good.

There is a strong sense of shared language here. CAP is not a poster slogan; pupils are explicitly encouraged to “wear the CAP”, and the values are framed as everyday habits rather than badges for the highest attainers. Respect is described as a foundational expectation, and differences are treated as something to recognise and celebrate.

Faith is woven into identity in a recognisable, Church school way. The Christian calendar is referenced as important, and links with the Diocese and the local parish are described as active rather than historic. At the same time, the school explicitly acknowledges other faiths, positioning understanding as part of belonging. For families who want a Church of England ethos that is present but not narrow, that balance will matter.

Leadership is prominent and outward-facing. The head teacher is Ms Sonia Thompson, and the school positions itself as a place that shares practice widely, including through a research school role and teacher development work. That outward-facing stance tends to correlate with a staff culture that takes professional learning seriously, which is often a positive indicator for consistency in classrooms.

The numbers point to a school that does not merely edge above average; it is operating in a different performance bracket.

Headline attainment (Key Stage 2, 2024)

• 92% reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, versus 62% across England.

• 25.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, versus 8% across England.

Scaled scores and curriculum signals (2024)

Reading and mathematics scaled scores are both reported at 107, and grammar, punctuation and spelling at 109. The combined total score is 323.

These figures suggest that strong outcomes are not confined to one cohort skill; they reflect secure foundations across literacy and maths, and a high floor in technical accuracy.

Rankings context (FindMySchool)

Ranked 2,153rd in England and 38th in Birmingham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), this places performance comfortably within the top quarter of schools in England (top 25%).

For parents comparing local options, this is the useful signal: you are not choosing a school that is merely “good”; you are choosing one that is consistently above the England mid-pack.

A practical tip: when comparing nearby schools, FindMySchool’s Local Hub and Comparison Tool are useful for checking whether another school’s strengths sit in the same area (for example, higher standard depth versus strong expected-standard coverage).

Reading is described as a defining priority, including early reading. Pupils start learning to read straight away, and most keep up with the chosen programme; those who fall behind are supported to catch up quickly. The implication for families is straightforward: children who arrive with weaker starting points are not left to drift, and the system is designed to intervene early.

Writing standards are framed as an outcome of that reading culture. Phonics knowledge is not treated as a standalone skill; it is expected to transfer into writing accuracy and quality. This is often where schools split, some teach decoding but do not consistently build composition. Here, the stated approach is more integrated, and the results data aligns with that picture.

Curriculum ambition beyond English and maths is also emphasised. Deep dives in the January 2025 inspection included history and geography alongside reading and mathematics, and the school is involved in Opening Worlds, a knowledge-rich humanities programme for Years 3 to 6 (history, geography and religion), authored by Christine Counsell and Steve Mastin.

For pupils who respond well to structured knowledge-building, that sort of approach can be a strong fit.

As a Birmingham primary, secondary transfer is shaped by the local authority process and the pattern of family preferences across the city. The school does not publish a definitive “feeder list” on its own website, so families should treat Year 7 planning as something to check early using Birmingham’s secondary admissions information and local travel practicalities.

What the school can control is readiness. Strong outcomes at the end of Year 6, plus a curriculum that explicitly values oracy (presenting, debating, speaking clearly), tends to translate into pupils who are equipped for the jump in independence that Year 7 demands.

If you are shortlisting, FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature can help you keep track of secondary options alongside this primary, especially if you are balancing travel time, sibling logistics, and faith preferences.

Reception entry is through the local authority coordinated scheme. Birmingham City Council is stated as the admissions authority for the school’s September intake, and the published admission number for 2026 to 2027 is 30.

The school is oversubscribed on the most recent published demand data. For Reception entry, there were 84 applications for 30 offers, a subscription proportion of 2.8 applications per place.

That ratio matters because it means families should plan for realistic alternatives, even if they are nearby.

Oversubscription criteria are clearly defined and include priority for looked-after and previously looked-after children, then siblings, then Church of England church attendance (defined as monthly attendance over a 12 month period before application, evidenced by the local minister), followed by distance-based prioritisation.

The practical implication is that faith practice can be a meaningful admissions lever here, but it needs to be evidenced and consistent, not last-minute.

For 2026 entry, the school’s website states the closing date for applications as 15 January 2026.

Because last offered distance is not published in the available data, families who are relying on proximity should avoid assumptions and instead work from the oversubscription criteria and the overall demand level.

Behaviour and attitudes is graded Outstanding in the January 2025 inspection, and the school places high expectations early, including a simple rules-based approach that is meant to keep classrooms calm and focused.

For many children, that clarity is reassuring. It reduces the low-level disruption that can erode learning time in busy primaries.

Safeguarding is confirmed as effective in the same inspection cycle.

That matters most for families who want confidence that routines, reporting and culture are not treated as a paperwork exercise.

A key nuance is inclusion. The improvement focus flagged in the inspection is around consistency in identifying and addressing needs for some pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, so that they access the curriculum as well as they could.

For families with children who need structured additional support, this is the area to explore carefully during visits and conversations.

This is not a school that presents “after-school clubs” as a generic bolt-on. Instead, it highlights structured opportunities that build communication, confidence and cultural capital.

Oracy and confidence-building

Pupils are described as having regular opportunities to perform, present and debate, and they are expected to speak clearly, confidently and articulately. That aligns with the CAP identity; pride here is framed as voice and presence, not simply individual attainment.

Evidence-informed practice as a visible feature

The school’s role in the Research Schools Network, plus its training-centre work around Talk for Writing, shapes the way learning is talked about publicly. For parents, the relevance is not the branding; it is the likelihood that teaching approaches are deliberately chosen, tested, and shared across staff rather than left to individual preference.

Humanities enrichment

Opening Worlds is a specific, named programme, and the school positions itself as a regional hub for it. That provides a tangible indicator of curriculum ambition beyond English and maths, especially for Years 3 to 6.

Sport and activities

The school’s website points parents to Playwaze for Schools as a way of discovering sport and activity options matched to children’s interests and abilities. This is a useful practical tool for families who need clarity on what runs when, rather than a broad promise of “lots of clubs”.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school publishes a 32.5-hour week. Morning registration begins at 8.45am, and the school day ends at 3.15pm.

A before-school club is referenced in the most recent inspection documentation. Wraparound provision can change year to year depending on staffing and demand, so families who need early drop-off or later collection should confirm the current offer directly with the school before relying on it.

For travel planning, the location in Nechells makes it a practical option for families in the immediate area and those commuting towards central Birmingham, but day-to-day timing is often driven by drop-off congestion and walking route safety, which are best assessed in person.

• High competition for Reception places. With 84 applications for 30 places in the most recent admissions data, this is not a “safe” choice even for local families. Have realistic alternatives alongside it.

• Faith-based priority can be decisive. Church attendance is an explicit oversubscription criterion with a defined evidencing requirement. Families who do not meet it may be competing mainly on siblings and distance.

• SEND consistency is the main improvement area. The inspection focus is on ensuring staff consistently identify and address needs so some pupils with SEND access the full curriculum. Families should ask what has changed since January 2025, particularly in early years.

• Very high expectations can feel intense for some children. CAP values and strong academic outcomes suit many pupils, but children who need a slower ramp-up may benefit from extra transition support conversations with staff.

This is a high-performing Birmingham primary with a clear Church of England identity and a distinctive “CAP” language that shapes behaviour, culture and ambition. Academic outcomes are extremely strong against England benchmarks, and the curriculum story is unusually concrete for a state primary, with named programmes and a research-led profile.

Who it suits: families who want a values-driven school with strong literacy and maths outcomes, clear behaviour expectations, and a culture that expects pupils to speak up and aim high. The main challenge is admission, competition for places is the limiting factor.