Last reviewed: September 2026 · Rankings and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Abeunt Studia in Mores (Studies Determine Character) is the motto, and North Bromsgrove High School treats it as a working principle rather than a crest decoration. This is a mixed, non-selective 13 to 18 high school in the Charford area of Bromsgrove. It works as an upper school: students join in Year 9, most of them moving up from middle schools, and can stay through to the end of Year 13.
The school opened under its present identity on 1 December 2023 as a sponsor-led academy within Shires Multi Academy Trust, taking over from a predecessor school of the same name. Around 1,080 students are on roll. Mrs Donna Hodgson is Headteacher, working alongside Mr Nick Gibson as Executive Headteacher; both joined in September 2018, so leadership has carried through the change of legal status.
Families should weigh a clear set of strengths (pastoral structures, a well-organised sixth form, a genuinely broad arts and enrichment offer) against published results that sit below the England middle.
Four values run through everything here, gathered under one acronym: CARE, standing for Community, Aspiration, Respect and Endeavour. The school uses them to shape its rewards and sanctions, its personal development lessons (the CARE Curriculum) and its house system, and the same letters are reworked for the teaching model (Connect, Adapt, Respond, Engage). That consistency matters. Students meet the same vocabulary in tutor time, in lessons and on the CARE postcards handed out for good conduct, which makes expectations easy to understand.
The house system gives the building its social shape. Every tutor group belongs to one of four houses, Churchill, Attenborough, Rowling and Earhart, and students stay in their house from arrival to departure. House points are logged on Arbor for effort, behaviour, attendance and participation, and termly House celebration assemblies are led by the House lead alongside student leaders. Competitions such as the House Hyrox and the House Football Festival turn that loyalty into healthy rivalry.
Mrs Hodgson describes a school where "every young person is known, supported and encouraged to succeed", and the staffing choices back that aim. She is herself the Senior Mental Health Lead, a qualified Mental Health First Aider and a Trauma Informed Practitioner, and the leadership team includes dedicated roles for behaviour and attitudes, personal development and wellbeing, and safeguarding and attendance.
Continuity is a quiet feature. Mr Dan Taylor, Director of Sixth Form, is a former student of the school, and Mrs Brierley, now an Associate Assistant Headteacher, has been on the staff since September 2006. For a school operating under a new legal identity, that institutional memory is reassuring.
Published outcomes are the part of the picture that needs the most honest reading. In the latest GCSE results, 263 students completed Year 11, with an average Attainment 8 score of 40.6. The Progress 8 score was -0.47; since 0 represents the England average, this indicates that students made less progress from their starting points than similar students elsewhere in England.
North Bromsgrove High School ranks 2,472nd of 3,895 in England for GCSE results (top 63.5%) (ranked against all schools in England with published GCSE results, state and independent). That places it in the lower half of schools in England on this proprietary FindMySchool ranking, built from official data. English Baccalaureate figures follow a similar pattern: 14.4% of students achieved grade 5 or above across the EBacc subjects, with an average EBacc point score of 3.58.
At A-level, the gap to the England average is wider. Around 20% of grades were A* to B against an England average of 47%, and roughly 5% were A* or A, compared with 24% across England. Broken down further, about 1% of entries earned an A*, 4% an A and 15% a B. On the FindMySchool A-level ranking the sixth form sits 2,426th of 2,562 in England (top 94.7%), below the England average.
These figures describe the whole cohort and should be read alongside the school's inclusive intake, which includes a Special Educational Needs unit for autistic students. They are nevertheless the benchmark any prospective family should hold the school to, and the clearest sign of where improvement still needs to show.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
20.22%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE
2472nd
England rank
Ranking figures update automatically as our data refreshes and are the definitive source. Any rankings quoted in the review text were accurate when it was written and may since have changed.
Classroom practice follows a single, named framework: the CARE Teaching and Learning Model. Teachers are asked to connect new material to prior knowledge, adapt lessons for different learners, respond to understanding through questioning, feedback and retrieval, and engage students actively. Each subject publishes a Learning Journey that sets out how knowledge is sequenced from key concepts to mastery. For parents, these documents are a practical way to see what a child will study and why, and they give teachers a shared map for spotting who needs more support or stretch.
Year 9 is a bridging year. Students continue a broad range of subjects, with English, maths and science at the core and additional subjects taught once a fortnight so that GCSE option choices in the spring term are informed ones. RPE (Religion, Philosophy and Ethics) covers citizenship themes such as politics, law and finance, and a Year 9 Life Skills programme adds literacy, careers, finance and budgeting. Classes are typically around 27 students, with 50 lessons per fortnight.
At GCSE, every student takes English Language, English Literature, mathematics and science, plus Geography and/or History and three further options, one of which can be Separate Sciences.
Literacy gets deliberate attention. Under the Tutor Read-Aloud Programme (TRAP), tutors read fiction and non-fiction aloud each week in the autumn term, with structured discussion afterwards; the spring term switches to oracy work built around news photographs. The 16 Before 16 reading challenge, launched on World Book Day 2024, is a reading list chosen by North students themselves, with copies of every title in the library.
Homework is kept tightly scoped: independent learning tasks should take no longer than 30 minutes, are set through Arbor so parents can see them, and give students at least two days to complete.
North Sixth Form is a genuine option rather than an afterthought, and its breadth is the first thing to note. The course list runs to 23 A-levels: Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Drama & Theatre Studies, English Language, English Literature, Film Studies, Fine Art, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Photography, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies and Spanish. Alongside them sit Criminology, Dance, Food Science & Nutrition, Health & Social Care and Medical Science. Students can combine A-levels with vocational courses, which suits those who want a blended route.
Students take three subjects, each with nine hours of study, and requests for a fourth are considered individually. The EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is offered to all sixth form students, which lets students research a topic of their choice in depth and carries UCAS tariff points.
The physical space is well described. The Sixth Form Centre includes three refurbished study rooms with kitchen facilities, study desks with charging ports and large screen monitors, plus an outdoor terrace used for study in better weather. Every Year 12 student is given a Notebook computer, which removes one practical barrier to independent study.
Enrichment is timetabled, not optional: every sixth former has at least one enrichment session each week. Options include mentoring younger students, volunteering, academic competitions, sports clubs, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and work experience. Leadership roles include Head Student and Deputy, Head Prefect, Senior Prefects, Subject Ambassadors and the Sixth-Form Council. The school also lists Young Enterprise triple award winners, NCS (National Citizen Service) and Oxbridge Summer Schools among its opportunities, and sixth formers have taken Media trips to New York.
University guidance is structured and personal. Tutor time in the sixth form focuses on helping each student refine their personal statement, and the school partners with Unifrog so students can explore options and manage applications in one place. The school reports that last year 98% of its students received offers from their first choice university.
For the most competitive routes, the sixth form provides specialist support for applicants to medicine and dentistry and for those aiming at Russell Group universities, including bespoke support for Oxbridge applications. In the most recent Oxbridge cycle, six students applied: two to Cambridge and four to Oxford. One Cambridge applicant received an offer and accepted it, while the Oxford applications did not result in offers. That is a small number, but it shows the route is open and supported for a student with the grades.
Apprenticeships and employment are treated as equal destinations. Year 12 students complete a week of work experience, sourcing their own placements with support through CARE lessons and logging them on Unifrog. The wider school calendar includes university trips, visiting lecturers, university and apprenticeship fairs, a Year 10 Aspiration Day and a Post 18 Decisions-Day, so thinking about the next step starts well before the sixth form.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 16.7%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
0
Offers
Entry to the main school is at Year 9, when students move on from middle school, with 300 places available in that year group. Applications are made online through the Worcestershire local authority portal, not to the school directly, by the October closing date. Families living outside Worcestershire apply through their own home local authority, which passes the application on. Applications received after the deadline may be treated as late, and the school warns that a late application can be unsuccessful even for a family living very close by or with a child already at the school.
The school has a defined catchment area and publishes two maps: one showing the catchment solely for North Bromsgrove, and a second showing an area shared with SBHS. Families near the boundary should study both maps and read the Admissions Policy on the school website alongside Worcestershire's guidance before listing preferences.
Transition is treated as a process rather than a single day. Staff gather information from middle schools on attendance, behaviour, SEND and pastoral needs before students arrive. On the first day of the year, new Year 9 students are the only year group in the building, and they have an early lunch so they can learn the canteen and site before older students return.
The Open Evening runs on Thursday 24 September 2026 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, with the Headteacher speaking at 5:45pm and again at 6:45pm; no booking is needed. Morning Tours run from 9:15am to 11:00am on 28, 29 and 30 September and 5, 6 and 7 October 2026, and must be booked by 24 September.
Sixth form entry. Students must have at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or Level 2 equivalents), including grade 4 or above in maths and English. Many subjects set higher bars: grade 7 in GCSE maths for A-level Mathematics, grade 8 for Further Mathematics, and grade 6 in the relevant science and in maths for Biology and Chemistry. Both current students and external applicants apply using the same online form. For September 2026 entry, the internal deadline was Friday 12 December 2025 and the external deadline was Friday 23 January 2026; families should check the application page for the next cycle's dates. Taster days and bridging sessions support the move from Year 11.
Support is layered. The form tutor is the first point of contact, meeting the tutor group for 25 minutes every day. Heads of Year cover Years 9, 10 and 11, and they are backed by Progress Leaders and the Student Support Team, with trained counsellors and mentors available for students who need more. In the sixth form, tutors meet students daily and a dedicated Student Support Officer is based in the sixth form facility.
Behaviour policy is built on the CARE values and, in the school's own framing, trauma informed practice. Rewards are frequent and visible: Learning Legends awarded in lessons by senior leaders, WOW (Work of the Week) postcards, CARE postcards and daily House point heroes chosen by Heads of Year. Sanctions are meant to be applied fairly and consistently, with room for students to reflect and repair relationships.
Attendance expectations are explicit. The school expects at least 96% attendance, students must be at Roll Call by 8:45am, and a four-stage monitoring process involves the attendance partner A Star Attendance Solutions where attendance slips.
Peer support adds another layer. Wellbeing Ambassadors from Years 10, 11 and the sixth form run buddy systems, drop-in sessions and campaigns for World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week. Recently they delivered 107 handmade birthday cards to a local care home resident, Irene, for her 107th birthday, and raised £150 for the children's mental health charity Place2Be.
Special educational needs. Mrs R. Jenkinson, Assistant Headteacher and SENCO, leads the provision. The school runs a Special Educational Needs unit for autistic students, with capacity for 10. Support also includes designated learning spaces, a supervised lunch area with kitchen facilities, a dedicated SEND classroom and in-class aids such as reading pens and laptops.
Performing arts. This is the strongest pillar. Drama, Dance and Music all feature in the curriculum and continue to A-level or equivalent, and the performance calendar is busy: a school production of the musical Hadestown, the Northfest talent show, Live Lounge events, a Dixie band and instrumental ensembles, the Shires Christmas Carol Concert and a Summer Showcase at the Artrix. Students also appear at Bromsgrove Carnival and the Shires Showcase, and an annual London Musical Trip is a regular fixture. Music students record in the school's purpose-built recording studio, where a professional sound engineer has helped them mix and edit their work. Instrumental and vocal lessons are provided through Severn Arts, with families booking and paying directly.
Sport. The House Football Festival, run with the help of Sports Captains, is a fixture of the year, and whole-school events such as the Colour Run and the Shires Olympics widen participation. The school supports the This Girl Can campaign, and a Celebrating Elite Performers section recognises students competing at regional, national and international level. A bi-annual ski trip gives students another reason to sign up.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. DofE runs from Bronze in Year 9, through Silver in Year 10, to Gold in the sixth form. In the last academic year, volunteering through DofE amounted to 897 hours, which the school values at £4,314, a sign of how far the scheme reaches into the local community.
Stretch and leadership. The Scholars’ Programme, currently invitation-only while it is trialled, offers the most able students enrichment sessions designed by subject specialists and super-curricular challenges that earn badges. It leads into the Higher Project Qualification (HPQ), equivalent to half a GCSE, which prepares students for the EPQ in the sixth form. The Student Senior Leadership Team gives selected students responsibility for areas such as student voice, sustainability, and equality, diversity and inclusion.
Students and staff choose the charities together: in 2025-26 the school supported Children in Need, Comic Relief, Soccer Aid and the Basement Project, among others. Holocaust 360 and Remembrance activities round out the civic side of school life.
The day begins with Roll Call at 8:45am, led by Heads of Year; students arriving after 9:20am without a valid reason are recorded as absent for the morning. Two dedicated school buses serve villages beyond regular routes: BG22 covers Fairfield, Bournheath and Dodford, while BG34 runs from Well Brook Nursery through Alvechurch, Hopwood, Cofton, Barnt Green, Blackwell and Burcot. Families should check Worcestershire County Council's school and college transport policy for eligibility.
This is a state school with no tuition fees. Lunch is run by BAM FM, with a daily meal deal at £3.17 paid through ParentPay. Uniform is available from S&H Schoolwear and Sports and Earth Uniform, and the school keeps preloved items in all sizes. Sixth formers facing financial barriers can apply to the 16-19 Bursary Fund for help with transport, trips, meals, books and equipment.
Results trail the England middle. A GCSE Progress 8 score of -0.47 and an A-level A* to B rate of 20% against an England average of 47% are the most important numbers here. Families with academically ambitious children should ask specific questions at the Open Evening about how teaching is improving outcomes in the subjects they care about.
No Ofsted inspection of its own yet. The school has not yet been inspected by Ofsted since it opened on 1 December 2023. Before this school opened, the predecessor school (URN 116928) was judged Good by Ofsted in January 2023. That judgement relates to the predecessor, not to the current academy, so parents are relying on results and their own visit for now.
Entry comes at 13, not 11. Year 9 entry and a catchment shared in part with another high school mean families moving into the area, or coming from a two-tier system, need to plan around middle school transfer and the October deadline.
Sixth form bars vary by subject. The general entry requirement is modest, but grade 7 in maths for A-level Mathematics and grade 8 for Further Mathematics are demanding, so students should check each subject's requirement before committing.
North Bromsgrove High School offers a well-organised, values-driven upper school with more structure and breadth than its results alone would suggest. The CARE framework gives students a consistent language for learning and behaviour; the house system, Wellbeing Ambassadors and layered pastoral team give them people to turn to; and the performing arts calendar, from Hadestown to the Artrix showcase, gives creative students a real stage. The sixth form's 23 A-levels, timetabled enrichment and support for competitive applications add genuine options at 16.
It is best suited to local families moving up from Bromsgrove's middle schools who value strong pastoral care, a broad curriculum and plenty to do beyond lessons, and to students who want a sixth form with wide subject choice close to home. The main caveat is academic: GCSE progress and A-level grades sit well below the England benchmark, and the school has no inspection record of its own yet, so families should look closely at how outcomes are moving before deciding.
It has clear strengths in pastoral care, enrichment and sixth form breadth, but its published results sit below the England middle, with a GCSE Progress 8 score of -0.47 and a GCSE ranking of 2,472nd of 3,895 in England. It opened under its present identity on 1 December 2023 and has no inspection of its own yet.
In the latest results, 263 students finished Year 11 with an average Attainment 8 score of 40.6 and a Progress 8 score of -0.47, meaning progress was below the England average. Around 14.4% achieved grade 5 or above across the English Baccalaureate subjects.
The school has a defined catchment area, shown on two maps on its admissions page: one for North Bromsgrove alone and one shared with SBHS. Applications for Year 9 go through the Worcestershire local authority portal by the October closing date.
Behaviour is managed through the CARE values, with a rewards system of house points, Learning Legends and postcards, and sanctions applied with a trauma informed approach that gives students a chance to reflect and repair relationships. Form tutors are the first point of contact for any concern, backed by Heads of Year, Progress Leaders and the Student Support Team.
Students need at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including grade 4 or above in maths and English. Some subjects ask for more, such as grade 7 in maths for A-level Mathematics and grade 8 for Further Mathematics. Internal and external applicants use the same online form, with deadlines published on the sixth form applications page.
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