Waverley Studio College Review 2026: A 14 to 19 studio school built around workplace learning

Choosing a 14 to 19 provider is a deliberate pivot, and Waverley Studio College is set up for families who want education to feel closely connected to employment and professional routes. The model is small by design, with an intended capacity of 300 students and a published admission number of 75 for Year 10 entry.

The offer centres on applied, vocational learning and work placements across the college’s specialisms, with a stated focus on careers in Health, Creative Technology and Enterprise. Students are supported through a Learning Coach system, which is positioned as a consistent thread from entry through to next steps.

For parents, the most helpful way to read this college is as a specialist, post 14 setting that is trying to do two things at once, secure core academic foundations while building employability, confidence, and practical readiness. The latest inspection confirmed the college continues to be rated Good, with effective safeguarding arrangements.

The college describes itself as “Learning in a working Environment”, and that framing shows up in how it talks about day to day experience. Students split learning between the site and workplace settings, with employers involved in supporting placements and applied projects.

Leadership stability matters in small schools, because the culture can shift quickly. The college’s current Principal is Mrs J. Kler, appointed in February 2023.

The most recent inspection narrative emphasised a welcoming ethos, particularly for students who are new arrivals and for those joining from other schools seeking a more vocational route. It also highlighted calm, orderly conduct and positive peer relationships, including the way students respond to a changing intake profile.

A distinctive aspect here is the explicit safeguarding partnership language. The college states it has a two way information sharing agreement with West Midlands Police and participation in a local Police and Schools Panel, positioned as part of early intervention and safety messaging for families.

This is a studio school, which changes how performance measures should be interpreted. The college begins at age 14 (Year 10), rather than taking students from Year 7, and the latest Ofsted report explicitly notes the studio school context, including exemption from the English Baccalaureate expectation.

On GCSE outcomes, the latest available dataset in your input shows:

• Attainment 8 score: 26.4

• Progress 8 score: -1.42

• EBacc average point score: 2.12

In the FindMySchool GCSE ranking, the college is ranked 3,830rd in England (out of 4,593 ranked schools) and 103rd in Birmingham for GCSE outcomes. That places it below England average, within the lower performing 40% of schools in England on this measure (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

A level grade breakdown is not presented in the input, and the most practical way for families to evaluate post 16 strength here is to focus on the structure and credibility of pathways, placement quality, progression routes, and course completion support.

The teaching model is intentionally applied. The college describes project based learning and structured workplace exposure as part of preparing students for employment and further study.

At sixth form level, the curriculum offer is clearly defined around four programmes:

• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma pathways in Applied (Biomedical) Science, Business, and Health and Social Care (each positioned as equivalent to three A levels)

• NCFE CACHE Technical Diploma Level 3 in Childcare and Education, with two days of work experience each week in relevant settings

Alongside main programmes, the college highlights employability aligned add ons, including opportunities to gain qualifications such as first aid, mental health first aid, and health and safety, plus an ASDAN Extended Project Qualification described as equivalent to half an A level.

Inspection evidence also points to curriculum adaptation for students at earlier stages of English as an additional language, and flexible planning for students with special educational needs and or disabilities, with sequencing designed to help students build knowledge securely.

The college’s public narrative is strongly oriented to next step readiness, and for a studio school, destinations often matter as much as exam tables. Ofsted described many sixth form students as benefiting from regular workplace exposure, and highlighted leaders’ efforts to maintain placements despite post pandemic constraints.

From the 2023 to 2024 leaver cohort in your input (cohort size 53):

• 36% progressed to university

• 19% progressed to employment

• 4% progressed to further education

• 0% progressed to apprenticeships

Partnerships are also part of the progression picture. The college lists higher education links including the University of Birmingham, Aston University, Birmingham City University, and Newman University. It also references broader collaborations such as the Arthur Terry Teaching Schools Network and work with organisations including West Midlands Police, the National Society for Mathematics, Enterprise Challenge and Mosaic Project.

Entry is primarily at Year 10 (age 14) and Year 12 (age 16). The college states it can offer 75 places in Year 10 and 75 places in Year 12 each year.

For Year 10 entry, the 2026 admissions criteria set out the oversubscription priorities, in this order: looked after and previously looked after children; siblings; children of trust staff; then distance (straight line measurement to the college gates). Waiting lists operate until 31 December of the admission year.

For Birmingham’s coordinated applications to 14 to 19 academies for September 2026 entry, the local authority states applications open at 09:00 on 01 September 2025, with the statutory closing date at 23:59 on 31 October 2025.

Open events appear throughout the year rather than only in one autumn window. For example, the site shows open evening activity in September and November, alongside additional events in other months. Treat those as indicative patterns and check the current calendar before planning visits.

Parents weighing this college should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check practical travel time and routes, especially because post 14 provision can involve longer commutes than a local Year 7 entry school.

Pastoral structures are framed through consistent adult support. The college states that each student is assigned a Learning Coach, intended to support progress, targets, and next step planning across the whole journey.

Safeguarding is a prominent theme in both the inspection narrative and the college’s published statements. The latest Ofsted report states the safeguarding arrangements are effective, with close monitoring of at risk pupils and prompt support including external agency involvement.

The wider personal development programme described in the inspection includes equality and diversity days, safety education, and responsive handling of rare bullying incidents.

The college also highlights police partnership work aimed at raising awareness around serious youth risks, including knife crime and gangs, and encouraging student reporting routes.

A smaller roll does not mean a narrow enrichment offer, but it does mean extracurriculars need to be deliberately curated. The latest inspection evidence references a range of clubs including gardening, languages and martial arts. It also notes that some pupils would like more opportunities, which is a useful signal for families who see clubs as a major part of their child’s week.

Trips and cultural exposure also feature in the inspection narrative, including visits to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

In sixth form, the daily routine guidance encourages participation in clubs and teams, university visits, and professional development workshops delivered by external providers. It also references a sixth form student council and mentoring opportunities with younger students.

The published admissions material indicates a slightly longer day early in the week, 08:40 to 15:45 on Monday and Tuesday, and 08:40 to 15:05 on Wednesday to Friday.

This is a state funded provider, so there are no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the typical associated costs of school life such as uniform, trips, and any optional course related extras.

Location wise, early official documentation describes the site as in Birmingham’s Bordesley Green area, adjacent to the Heartlands Hospital campus.

For travel planning, it is sensible to test the commute at start and finish times, because post 14 travel often shapes attendance and wellbeing.

• Post 14 transfer is a big step. Moving at 14 can suit students who want a fresh start or a more applied route, but it also means leaving an established peer group at a point when many teenagers are still settling socially.

• GCSE outcomes are currently a weak point. The Attainment 8 score (26.4) and Progress 8 score (-1.42) indicate that, on average, students are not achieving as strongly in core GCSE measures as many mainstream secondaries.

• Academic breadth for high prior attainers joining from overseas can be constrained. Ofsted identified a limited range of Year 10 subject options for some new arrivals with strong academic backgrounds, which could narrow later pathways if a more academic route is the goal.

• Teaching consistency depends on staff experience. Ofsted also highlighted that some less experienced teachers need to improve how they adapt learning when pupils struggle, so families should ask how quality assurance and coaching work in practice.

Waverley Studio College is best read as a specialist 14 to 19 setting that prioritises employability, vocational pathways, and workplace experience alongside core academic study. It will suit students who are motivated by applied learning, who respond well to coaching style pastoral support, and who want a clearer line of sight from education to career routes in areas such as health, enterprise, and related programmes.

The limiting factor for some families is that GCSE performance measures are currently weak, so students who need a highly academic GCSE platform should weigh whether the vocational model matches their long term aims.