Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull Review 2026: Excellence from Grammar School Foundations

In 1957, two remarkable grammar schools opened on the same Solihull campus. Boys and girls studied in separate buildings until 1974, when they merged to create Tudor Grange School. What began as a traditional grammar education has evolved into something more ambitious: a comprehensive secondary academy where every student, regardless of background, receives the rigorous instruction once reserved for the academically selected few. Results are strong:. Ranking 508th for GCSE performance (top 11% in England; FindMySchool data), Tudor Grange has cracked the code that many schools pursue but few achieve: genuine academic excellence combined with genuine inclusion. The academy educates 1,700 students across years 7-13, including a thriving sixth form of around 300, in a setting that honours its heritage while embracing its comprehensive mission. Recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 awarded Outstanding ratings across every measure, confirming what parents in Solihull and beyond have recognised for years.

Beyond the gates, you encounter a school that wears its history lightly. The original boys' and girls' school buildings, now known affectionately as Oak and Willow, still anchor the campus, but they share space with contemporary facilities: an International Baccalaureate block, a purpose-built sports hall, and the distinctive Lead Lesson Suite, repurposed from a former gymnasium into a light-filled examination and teaching space. The school occupies Tudor Grange Park, a landscaped estate with roots stretching back to 1887 when silversmith Alfred Lovekin created the Jacobethan-style Tudor Grange House, now a Grade II* listed building, that gives the school its name and identity.

Mrs Claire Smith, who became Principal in 2018, leads a school committed to what it calls the Tudor Habits: the learning behaviours and values that thread through every day. Teachers know students as individuals. The Ofsted inspection noted that pupils frequently comment on the warmth and support they experience, and that the school values the diversity of its intake, ensuring curriculum choices represent different cultures. Students serve as mentors for younger pupils, with sixth-form students acting specifically as tutors in English, mathematics, and science. The school council structure gives pupils genuine voice in school decisions, while the sixth form operates under a mantra of "care, challenge, contribute."

GCSE Performance

Tudor Grange achieved outstanding GCSE outcomes in 2024. An Attainment 8 score of 62 substantially exceeds the England average of 45.9, placing students well above the national benchmark. Impressively, 40% of all GCSE grades awarded were grade 7 or above, indicating consistent excellence across the curriculum and not merely in a privileged subset. The school ranks 508th in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 11% of schools. Locally, it ranks 2nd among Solihull secondary schools. Progress 8 score of 0.75 demonstrates that students make above-average progress from their starting points, a crucial measure of school effectiveness that shows value being added to every learner.

EBacc performance is also highlighted: 42% of pupils achieved grade 5+ across the EBacc subjects. Average EBacc APS of 5.85 exceeds the England average of 4.08, confirming breadth as well as depth.

A-Level Performance

Sixth form performance mirrors secondary excellence. Across A-level entries in 2024, 73% achieved grades A* to B, far exceeding the England average of 47%, with an average grade of B+. The school ranks 482nd in England for A-level results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 18% and 4th in Solihull. This consistency across both key stages demonstrates that the school is not simply coaching students to pass exams at age 16, but sustaining and deepening academic achievement through to 18.

Subjects offered include the full range of traditional A-levels: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Literature, Geography, History, Politics, Art, Business, Computer Science, Core Maths, and Economics. The breadth reflects the school's technology college heritage and its commitment to keeping pathways open to all.

Teaching follows clear structures grounded in subject expertise. Teachers are expected to guide pupils through well-planned curriculum sequences, with subject knowledge evident in their explanations. The school's approach to learning is framed around the Tudor Habits: hard work, engagement, and proactive thinking. Year 9 students have opportunities to specialise in 2-3 subjects of particular interest, deepening their knowledge beyond the compulsory curriculum. This model allows breadth early (Key Stage 3) followed by genuine choice, rather than premature specialisation.

The school's recent designation as a Language Hub and Research School reflects its commitment to excellence beyond the classroom. Being a Research School signals recognition by educational authorities as an institution capable of investigating and implementing best practices in pedagogy. The Language Hubs initiative, in which Tudor Grange serves as a lead school, supports the teaching of modern languages across the region. Whole-school priorities include the Tudor Habits framework, ensuring consistency in how students are taught to approach learning, resilience, and problem-solving.

The school's university destinations underscore academic ambition. In 2024, 67% of sixth-form leavers progressed to university, with strong representation at Russell Group institutions and competitive courses. The school website reports that students regularly secure places on competitive programmes including medicine and dentistry. Beyond Oxford and Cambridge, the school has sent 3 students to Cambridge in the measurement period, ranking 261st in England for Cambridge acceptances (FindMySchool data), students progress to Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Exeter, and other research-intensive universities. Apprenticeship routes are also supported; the school notes that graduates have secured prestigious placements with firms including Grant Thornton and KPMG.

For those departing after Year 11, Tudor Grange's reputation means smooth transition to Solihull's sixth-form pathways or to other schools' specialist sixth forms. The school's careers programme is fully integrated with the Tudor Habits, ensuring students see post-16 choices not as isolated decisions but as natural extensions of how they've been taught to think and plan.

Student life extends far beyond the curriculum. The school emphasises enrichment, with sixth-form students offered university summer schools, work experience placements, and foreign trips including skiing in Italy and visits to international locations. Peer mentoring is woven into sixth-form culture. Students represent the school council and serve as tutor mentors, building leadership from within.

Sport: Tradition and Excellence

Sport occupies a central place. The new sports hall, built alongside retention of field facilities across the park, enables comprehensive provision. Rugby union commands particular pride; the school enjoys a friendly sporting rivalry with Solihull School, a prestigious independent, centred on rugby fixtures. With dedicated grass pitches, courts, and a floodlit multi-use games area, facilities support competitive fixtures and recreational participation simultaneously.

Music, Drama, and Creative Arts

Beyond the sports hall lies musical provision. The school does not position itself as a specialist music institution, but rather ensures instrumental tuition is accessible. Solihull Music, the local music hub, provides instrumental and vocal lessons on-site. This partnership model allows students to develop musical skills without the school requiring a large dedicated music staff. Drama facilities include a dedicated drama room, and performances happen throughout the year, though the school does not position itself as a major theatre producer.

Leadership and Mentoring

Sixth-form students act as English, mathematics, and science mentors for younger pupils, providing subject-specific support and modelling effective learning. The school council gives younger students voice in decision-making, while sixth-formers lead on student voice initiatives and represent the academy at official functions. This layering of responsibility, beginning in Year 7 with form councils, maturing in sixth form to formal mentoring and leadership roles, develops citizenship alongside academic skill.

Academic Enrichment and Extended Learning

The school's designation as a Research School brings academic enrichment initiatives. Year 10 work experience, reinstated after a decade's hiatus, places students in real workplaces, providing career exposure and employability development. Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is available in the sixth form, allowing independent research on topics of genuine interest. This sits alongside traditional curriculum subjects, ensuring students can pursue both breadth and depth.

Houses and Community

Houses remain central to school identity, named after British scientists and engineers. When the boys' and girls' schools merged in 1974, their original Tudor nobility-themed house names were combined: the current structure includes Beaufort-Mowbray, Lancaster-Newburgh, York-Verney, and Howard-Richmond. These houses organise inter-house competitions, house tutor groups, and pastoral care, creating sub-communities within the larger school.

Facilities Infrastructure

The school occupies an estate with multiple distinct buildings. Beyond Oak and Willow (the historic boys' and girls' structures), students inhabit the International Baccalaureate block, the Lead Lesson Suite (exam and large-group teaching), and specialist departments including dedicated music classrooms, drama studios, IT suites, design and technology workshops, and a cookery room. The library serves as a study hub, particularly for sixth-formers with dedicated study areas open until 4pm. This physical distribution means students navigate multiple spaces across the park, reinforcing the campus feel.

Tudor Grange is heavily oversubscribed at Year 7 entry, with 5.07 applications for every place offered. Distance from school becomes the primary criterion after looked-after children and siblings. Families should check current admissions policies via Solihull's coordinated admissions process or contact the school directly. Entry to the sixth form is available both for internal (Year 11) students and external applicants. Sixth form entry typically requires a minimum GCSE profile, details available from the school's sixth form office.

The school is non-selective by design, serving a genuinely mixed intake reflecting the local Solihull population. With approximately 51% of pupils from ethnic minorities, the school represents considerable cultural diversity. Free school meal eligibility stands at under 10%, indicating relatively lower deprivation than the West Midlands average, though the school explicitly values diversity in its curriculum and ethos.

School runs from 8:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Sixth-form study facilities remain open until 4:00pm. The academy day includes registration across multiple periods, with tutor groups meeting for pastoral check-ins. There is ample parking on-site (over 50 spaces), and the school actively encourages cycling, with secure facilities for bikes. Students can remain on-site during breaks and lunch, or depart with appropriate permission. Transport is a consideration for families beyond walking distance; the school is served by local bus routes, though details should be confirmed via Solihull transport planning or school admissions.

The Ofsted inspection specifically highlighted outstanding behaviour and attitudes, and outstanding personal development. Students are taught to reflect on their actions and make wise choices. The Tudor Habits framework, centred on hard work, engagement, and proactivity, is embedded in classroom management and pastoral conversations. Teachers skilfully guide pupils through well-planned curriculum sequences, creating an environment where academic challenge and emotional safety coexist.

The school has explicit provisions for students needing additional support. Wellbeing is a priority across the leadership team. Ofsted noted that parents frequently comment on the warmth and support children experience. The house structure ensures every student is known to a house team, and sixth-form mentors provide peer support alongside formal staff.

Oversubscription is significant. With 5+ applications per place, admission is competitive. Families must live within the last distance offered (which varies annually) or meet overriding criteria like looked-after status or specific needs provision. Verify current distances with Solihull local authority before assuming a place is likely.

The school is non-selective but academically ambitious. While all-ability in admissions policy, the culture and pace are decidedly academic. Students are expected to aspire to university, to engage with challenging curricula, and to embrace the Tudor Habits. Families seeking a more low-pressure secondary environment may find the consistent academic focus intense.

Facilities are spread across the park. While this creates a pleasant campus atmosphere, students move between buildings multiple times daily. For students with mobility limitations or anxiety around transitions, this may require support planning.

Sixth-form is open to external applicants, but entry standards are high. The school explicitly aims to retain strong internal candidates and attract excellent external students, creating a competitive sixth-form cohort. Students arriving from other schools should expect an academically rigorous environment.

Tudor Grange Academy represents something increasingly rare: a comprehensive secondary school delivering academic excellence without selection. GCSE rankings in the top 11% in England, A-level grades matching independent schools, and 73% of A-level entries at A*-B demonstrate that the grammar school model's academic ambition can be achieved within a truly mixed intake. The recent Outstanding Ofsted rating across all measures confirms this is not a temporary spike but a sustained commitment to excellence.

The school suits families seeking rigorous academics, diverse community, and a school with genuine heritage and evolving identity. Best suited to students ready for consistent academic challenge, who will engage with the Tudor Habits framework, and who benefit from structured pastoral care within a house system. Most families will find the culture supportive and inclusive, though the academic pace is unambiguously high. The main barrier is securing a place; once achieved, the educational experience is exceptional.