Four Oaks Primary School

Four Oaks Primary School sits in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, serving pupils aged 4 to 11. It is a state school with no tuition fees, and it is heavily oversubscribed for Reception entry, with 189 applications for 60 offers in the most recent admissions data. That equates to 3.15 applications per place, and first preferences also outstrip offers (a 1.4 ratio).

Academically, the headline is how far above typical performance the Key Stage 2 profile sits. In the 2025 dataset, 90% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. High attainment is also striking, with 20% achieving the higher standard across reading, writing and maths.

The latest inspection picture is equally clear. Ofsted’s June 2025 inspection reported Outstanding judgements across the full set of areas, including early years provision, and it did so under the newer approach that does not award a single overall grade.

A final contextual note for 2026 is the physical change underway. School communications describe the site moving into a new building during February 2026, with older buildings then scheduled for demolition.

The public-facing picture is of a school that puts equal weight on standards and breadth. The website emphasises “cultural capital” as a practical aim, meaning children are expected to build knowledge, experience, and confidence through planned opportunities rather than leaving it to chance.

Pastoral structures are presented as a priority, especially around safeguarding. The designated safeguarding lead list is unusually explicit and multi-person, which typically signals a culture where safeguarding is not seen as a single-role responsibility.

There is also a strong sense of the school as a longstanding community institution that has evolved. The school notes that the original building dates to 1957, and older inspection history documents that the current primary school was formed through the amalgamation of the infant and junior schools in September 2006.

Leadership is clearly identified. Government records list the current headteacher as Mr Mark Benton, and the school site also refers to Mr Benton as Head Teacher.

Four Oaks’ Key Stage 2 outcomes, as presented, sit in the very top tier nationally. Using FindMySchool’s ranking based on official data, it ranks 61st out of 14,978 schools in England for primary academic outcomes, and the local ranking places it 1st in Sutton Coldfield and 41st in England overall.

The 2025 attainment profile is consistent across subjects:

• Reading, writing and maths expected standard: 90%

• Higher standard across reading, writing and maths: 20%

• Reading scaled score: 111

• Maths scaled score: 112

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled score: 114

• Science expected standard: 100%

For parents, the implication is that pupils are leaving Year 6 with very strong foundations, and that high attainers are not just doing well, they are doing exceptionally well in national terms.

The strongest clue to teaching quality is not a single headline statistic but the consistency across the Key Stage 2 measures. When reading, maths, and grammar scaled scores all sit well above typical national benchmarks, it usually reflects tight curriculum sequencing and effective checking for understanding, particularly in upper key stage 2 where gaps tend to surface quickly.

A second practical indicator is the extent to which enrichment appears embedded rather than optional. The school publishes a broad curriculum structure and links it to an explicit “cultural capital” rationale, suggesting leaders expect pupils to accumulate knowledge and experiences systematically.

For families with children who thrive on academic stretch, the high proportion reaching the higher standard suggests there is meaningful challenge available. For children who need more time, the more important question to explore on a visit is how support is deployed in class, because the overall attainment profile indicates the mainstream pace is likely to feel brisk in some year groups.

What can be said with confidence is this: with current outcomes at this level, pupils will generally be well prepared for a demanding Key Stage 3 curriculum, and the transition conversation is likely to focus less on whether children can cope and more on which style of secondary school fits them best.

If secondary transfer is a core part of your decision, ask the school how it supports Year 6 transition work, especially for pupils moving into more selective or academically intense settings.

Four Oaks is oversubscribed for Reception entry on the data, with 189 applications for 60 offers, plus 3.15 applications per place applications per place. This is the defining practical reality for many families, and it explains why planning needs to start early.

Applications for Reception in Birmingham are local authority coordinated. For September 2027 entry, Birmingham City Council’s timetable shows the application window opening on 1 October 2026 and closing at 11:59pm on 15 January 2027, with offers released on 16 April 2027.

The school’s own admissions information also directs parents back to the local authority for the final registration date, which aligns with Birmingham’s coordinated approach.

Open events are worth treating as seasonal rather than date-specific. The school’s virtual open day page references an 11 October open day date from 2023, so a reasonable assumption is that open events typically run in October, but families should check the current calendar and school communications for the exact dates each year.

Helpful tool tip: if you are shortlisting multiple Birmingham primaries, the FindMySchool Map Search is the quickest way to sanity-check travel times and day-to-day logistics, before you invest time in tours and paperwork.

The school is explicit about safeguarding structures and names multiple designated safeguarding leads, which tends to correlate with clear internal escalation routes and staff training expectations.

Wellbeing also appears in the enrichment offer. The school describes after-school wellbeing classes led by a qualified life coach, which is a more specific offer than the generic “wellbeing focus” many schools claim.

One practical pastoral strength for working families is wraparound childcare on site through FOSBACS. The club runs from 7.30am and up to 6.00pm, and the school publishes a detailed charging grid from September 2025, including late collection terms.

The extracurricular programme is unusually well-documented. The school publishes termly club timetables and also flags when clubs have spare capacity, which suggests provision is broad enough that uptake varies by activity.

Specific examples matter because they tell you what is genuinely available. Recent communications reference:

• Junior Einstein Science Club (with a Spring Term 2026 start)

• Mixed martial arts, art club, and science club being promoted due to available spaces

Music is also positioned as accessible rather than niche. The school describes instrumental tuition via specialist teachers who work with the school, with families contacting the teachers directly for lesson timing and charges.

Sport appears structured through partnerships and external competitions, including links with Aston Villa FC and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, plus local clubs and school sports partnership events.

For parents, the implication is that clubs are not an afterthought. They are part of how the school delivers breadth, and they provide practical choice for pupils who need a wider stage than the classroom.

School opening times are published on the school site as 8.50am to 3.30pm for both infant and junior departments.

Wraparound childcare is available on site via FOSBACS, operating from 7.30am to 6.00pm.

Transport-wise, this is a residential Sutton Coldfield setting where many families will walk or use short car journeys. The key practical check is not just distance but the realism of drop-off timing against your working day, especially if you need wraparound every day.

** Admissions demand is high, with 189 applications for 60 offers in the published figures. If you are set on this option, you need a realistic plan B and should understand Birmingham’s coordinated admissions rules.

• High-attainment culture. With 90% reaching expected standards in reading, writing and maths, plus 20% hitting the higher standard, lessons may move quickly. Children who need a slower pace may need clarity on in-class support and how the school balances stretch with scaffolding.

• Building transition in 2026. The school has described a move into a new building during February 2026, with older buildings then due for demolition. This can be exciting, but it may also mean short-term disruption while routines settle.

Four Oaks Primary School combines exceptional Key Stage 2 outcomes with an inspection profile that confirms Outstanding practice across all areas in June 2025. It is also a high-demand Birmingham primary where admission is the main hurdle rather than the educational offer.

Best suited to families who want a high-performing state primary, value structured enrichment such as science clubs and music tuition, and can plan carefully around Birmingham’s admissions process.