St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Birmingham Review 2026: Literacy-led primary with standout early years

Morning registration begins at 8:45am, with gates opening from 8:30am, and the day is shaped by clear routines, daily collective worship, and an unusually strong focus on reading. Early years is a particular strength, reinforced by the school’s February 2025 inspection outcomes.

Academically, the picture is consistently strong. In 2024, 85.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. The school also attracts high demand for Reception places, which matters if you are applying from outside the immediate neighbourhood.

St Thomas has a clearly articulated Christian identity that shows up in the daily rhythm. Collective worship takes place each day from 10:30am to 10:45am, sometimes as a whole school, sometimes in classrooms; themes link back to the school’s vision and values, and the aim is reflection as well as celebration of festivals and current events.

The language of values is not abstract here. The most recent inspection describes a school where pupils and staff are proud to belong, and where love, trust, friendship and faith are visible in how pupils treat one another. That matters for parents who want an explicitly values-led culture without it feeling like an add-on.

Leadership is clear and visible. The head of school is Sarah Williams, and the staffing structure on the school website shows defined responsibilities across the curriculum, including named leads for phonics, humanities, music, mathematics, PE, and early years. In practice, that sort of role clarity often translates into more consistent classroom practice and smoother support when children need help.

There is also a deliberate emphasis on pupil voice and responsibility. A Year 6 Faith Group represents pupils on worship and RE-related matters, co-leads collective worship, and helps plan spaces such as the prayer corner during Prayer Week. For children who like purposeful roles, this adds meaningful leadership opportunities well before secondary school.

This is a state school with no tuition fees, so performance data is a key lens for families comparing options locally.

In England-wide terms, the school sits above the England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). Ranked 2040th in England and 37th in Birmingham for primary outcomes, it performs strongly both nationally and within the city (FindMySchool ranking).

Key Stage 2 outcomes for 2024 reinforce that story:

• 85.7% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%.

• 24.3% reached the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%.

• Reading scaled score was 109; mathematics was 106; grammar, punctuation and spelling was 109.

• Science expected standard was 77% (England average: 82%), which is a useful nuance for parents who want a balanced view rather than a single headline figure.

These figures point to a school where core literacy is a consistent strength, and where a meaningful share of pupils are pushed beyond the expected standard rather than being held at the middle. The science comparison is the counterweight: it is not weak, but it is the one area where the England average comparison is less flattering, so it is worth probing how science knowledge is built through the curriculum.

Parents who like data should also look at the shape of attainment, not only the top line. Higher-standard performance, especially, suggests there are systems for stretch as well as catch-up. For some children, that can mean a more engaged Year 6, with deeper reading, writing craft, and maths reasoning, rather than a year dominated solely by test technique.

For families comparing local schools, FindMySchool’s Local Hub and comparison tools can be helpful for placing these results alongside nearby primaries using the same measurement basis.

Phonics is a clear cornerstone. The latest inspection describes a highly effective phonics approach, with well-trained staff teaching new sounds precisely, books matched to pupils’ current knowledge, and extra support delivered when pupils need it so they keep pace. That level of systematic phonics, when done well, tends to show up later in reading confidence and comprehension, not just early decoding.

Oracy is another defining strand. The school explicitly teaches spoken-language skills progressively from early years through Key Stage 2, drawing on Voice 21 resources, and using an oracy framework that covers physical, linguistic, cognitive and social-emotional components of communication. The practical methods listed include structured discussion, class meetings, debate, speeches, presentation opportunities in assemblies, and drama and role-play through Talk for Writing.

For pupils, that can translate into clearer explanations of thinking, better listening habits, and stronger vocabulary retrieval. It also supports children who are bright but hesitant speakers, because the school treats speaking and listening as teachable competencies, not personality traits.

Early years provision deserves separate attention because it sets the trajectory. The school has nursery provision and a designated early years leadership structure. The February 2025 inspection outcome graded early years provision as Outstanding, which is a specific reassurance if you are looking at nursery and Reception continuity.

Across the broader curriculum, the school publishes detailed curriculum materials and progression documents, including vocabulary mapping and structured knowledge sequencing in subjects such as geography and design and technology. For parents, the implication is that learning is intended to be cumulative rather than a series of disconnected topics, and that teachers are likely to refer back deliberately to prior learning.

As a primary school, the core question is transition at the end of Year 6.

The school’s location in central Birmingham typically means families consider a mix of local state secondaries and, for some, selective routes where pupils sit entrance tests. St Thomas does not publish a single named destination list on its website, which is common for city-centre primaries where families’ choices vary widely year to year.

What the school does publish is more informative in another way: it has an explicit approach to literacy identity and communication, which tends to travel well into secondary school. Pupils leaving a primary with strong reading stamina, confident spoken language, and good routines for independent work often settle faster at Year 7, regardless of which secondary they attend.

If you are considering a selective pathway, the best starting point is to understand the likely timeline and the travel implications, then decide whether that fits your child’s temperament. A calm, structured primary can be an excellent foundation, but the secondary choice still needs to match your child’s learning style.

Demand is high. For Reception entry, the school was oversubscribed in the most recent admissions data, with 151 applications for 30 offers. That is just over 5 applications per place, which is a clear signal that admission is the limiting factor for many families, not the school’s quality.

Reception applications for September 2026 entry follow Birmingham’s coordinated process. The school’s published timetable states:

• Applications open: 1 October 2025

• Deadline: 15 January 2026

• National offer day: 16 April 2026

• Appeals deadline: 15 May 2026

• Appeal hearings for on-time appeals: 17 July 2026

These dates matter because Birmingham’s process is deadline-driven, and late applications are handled differently. The school also makes clear that late Reception applications still go through the local authority rather than directly to the school.

Nursery entry is separate. The school states that nursery applications are open for places in September 2026, and that it only runs a September round of nursery admissions. The application route is via a school form rather than the local authority’s standard primary portal, so families need to pay attention to which route applies to which year group.

A practical tip for families shortlisting: use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check your home-to-school distance accurately, then cross-check against the oversubscription criteria in the published admissions policy. Even when a school does not publish a “last distance offered” figure, distance often plays a decisive role once priority groups have been placed.

The most helpful pastoral indicator is day-to-day behaviour and whether pupils feel safe. The school’s February 2025 inspection outcomes graded behaviour and attitudes as Good, and the written report describes a calm, purposeful atmosphere with warm relationships between pupils and adults. The report also confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Beyond those headline assurances, the school’s website shows a layered approach to wellbeing and belonging:

• Anti-bullying ambassadors run initiatives such as playground “friendship stop” activities and assemblies, and the school aligns with the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s United Against Bullying programme model.

• The oracy focus includes explicit teaching of listening and discussion norms, which can reduce low-level conflict in classrooms because pupils are taught how to disagree and collaborate.

• Faith Group leadership offers a channel for pupil voice within worship and reflection, which some children find grounding and reassuring.

There is also evidence of inclusion structures in staffing, including a named SENDCo and a “Rainforest Room Team”, suggesting designated adults for additional needs support. Parents of children with SEND should ask how this works in practice, for example, what triggers extra support and how communication with families is structured.

This is where St Thomas differentiates itself, because enrichment is linked tightly to reading identity, community connection, and pupil leadership.

Reading culture as an activity pillar

The school participates in multiple structured reading initiatives, and it talks about them with unusual specificity.

Book Club is described as a weekly 30-minute session led by trained reading facilitators, built around choice, discussion, and building positive reading identities through curated “book boxes”. The school also reports an independent evaluation partnership with The Open University’s Reading for Pleasure team, and it publishes measured changes over a ten-week period, including increases in reading enjoyment and self-identification as a good reader. That emphasis on reading as something children choose, not just something assessed, is often what shifts reluctant readers.

Chapter One adds another layer: online reading volunteers spend 30 minutes each week reading with the same child. The school reports that it started the programme in 2024 and completed it with Year 1 in July 2025, and it describes 55 reading hours delivered with eight children. For families, the key implication is additional adult attention on reading fluency and confidence, delivered consistently rather than as a one-off intervention.

Generations of Stories broadens literacy beyond school walls. The school states it was selected through a National Literacy Trust and BUPA programme to link with residential homes in Birmingham; pupils take part in storytelling workshops with residents, and the project includes “twinned” libraries where shared books are kept on both sites. This is both literacy work and social learning, especially for children who gain confidence by reading aloud to a real audience.

Pupil leadership and responsibility

The Faith Group and anti-bullying ambassadors are clear examples of structured pupil roles. Faith Group members co-lead worship and help maintain prayer spaces during themed weeks. Anti-bullying ambassadors organise events, assemblies, and peer-facing activities such as playground friendship stops.

Eco Team activity is practical rather than symbolic. The school describes pupils from Key Stage 1 and 2 meeting once each half term to explore environmental topics, including litter picking around school grounds and planting in the garden with a focus on sensory experience for early years pupils. For children who learn best by doing, this kind of tangible responsibility can become a genuine motivator.

Clubs and extended provision

Extended Schools provision is designed around half-termly club sign-ups, with after-school clubs finishing at 4:15pm. Breakfast club runs from 7:30am until the start of school, described as a creative and active club for pupils. This matters for working families because it indicates regular wraparound coverage, not occasional enrichment.

Finally, the school has introduced a school dog, Rusty, a cocker spaniel in training since September 2024. The school frames this as a therapy-style role intended to support pupils’ wellbeing and engagement, which may particularly suit anxious children, reluctant readers, or those who find emotional regulation easier with calm routines and supervised animal interaction.

The school day is clearly published. School is open from 7:30am and closes at 5:15pm during term time to support breakfast club, after-school club, and operational needs. The official start is 8:45am (gates open at 8:30am) and the official end is 3:15pm.

Breakfast club runs from 7:30am, and after-school clubs typically finish at 4:15pm. If you need later paid wraparound care, it is worth confirming directly how the after-school club runs day to day, including booking rules and availability, as places can be limited in popular settings.

Given the school’s inner Birmingham setting, many families rely on walking and public transport. The school does not publish preferred travel routes, so parents should test the school run at peak times and consider how collection logistics work if you have children at multiple sites.

• Reception places are highly competitive. Recent admissions data shows 151 applications for 30 offers, so application strategy and criteria understanding matter.

• Science outcomes are the one comparative dip. Science expected-standard performance is below the England average in the most recent data, so ask how science knowledge and vocabulary are built across Key Stage 2.

• Faith life is part of the daily rhythm. Daily collective worship and a Year 6 Faith Group shape school culture. Families who prefer a strictly secular approach should think carefully about fit.

• Stretch is a stated improvement area. The latest inspection identifies that learning is not always adapted to deepen understanding for pupils ready to move on quickly, so parents of high-attaining children should ask how extension is handled in each year group.

St Thomas Church of England Primary School combines strong academic outcomes with a distinctive literacy spine, backed by structured phonics, oracy teaching, and multiple reading partnerships. Early years provision stands out, and the wider offer includes leadership roles and community-linked projects that give pupils real purpose beyond lessons.

Who it suits: families who want a Church of England primary with clear routines, strong reading development, and wraparound availability, and who are prepared for competitive Reception admissions.