Alderbrook School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,701 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.2
Academy converter
Arden
- Pupils on roll
- 1,812of 1,490 places
- Free school meals
- 12.4%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 296
- Ofsted
- Good, 14 June 2022Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Arden School (URN 104111, until 1 October 2010).
What the data says
Of the 295 pupils who finished Year 11 at Arden in 2023, 49% stayed on in Arden’s own sixth form (Solihull average 29%), 24% went to a further education college and 4% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 147 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 60% went to university (Solihull 37%, England 37%), and 44% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were well above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 59.6 against 46.1 across England and 47.0 in Solihull, with 73% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average B, above the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Mathematics, Business Studies and History.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Solihull and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Arden | Solihull | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 295 | 3,283 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 95% | 90% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 90% | 84% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 49% | 29% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 14% | 14% | 13% |
| — further education college | 24% | 38% | 37% |
| — other education | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Employment | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 2% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Arden | Solihull | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 147 | 4,534 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 86% | 77% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 60% | 37% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 44% | 18% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 5% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 7% | 7% |
| Employment | 21% | 28% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 10% | 18% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Arden | Solihull | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 59.6 | 47.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 73% | 48% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 89% | 67% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 46% | 44% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 5.28 | 4.16 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 12% | 29% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 43.7 | 33.4 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 61.7 | 52.5 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 7% | 11% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Literature | 297 | 100% | 86% | 39% | 21% | 92% |
| English Language | 297 | 100% | 89% | 24% | 20% | 91% |
| Mathematics | 295 | 100% | 88% | 36% | 22% | 91% |
| Combined Science | 168 | 57% | 65% | 15% | 9% | 74% |
| History | 161 | 54% | 41% | 57% | 26% | 88% |
| Geography | 150 | 51% | 41% | 37% | 25% | 81% |
| Biology | 122 | 41% | 23% | 55% | 45% | 97% |
| Physics | 121 | 41% | 23% | 53% | 46% | 97% |
| Chemistry | 121 | 41% | 23% | 50% | 47% | 96% |
| Business Studies | 83 | 28% | 18% | 45% | 20% | 89% |
| French | 78 | 26% | 18% | 51% | 29% | 88% |
| Media Studies | 58 | 20% | 4% | 26% | 20% | 79% |
| Fine Art | 58 | 20% | 9% | 43% | 28% | 95% |
| Computer Science | 57 | 19% | 13% | 39% | 30% | 81% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 49 | 17% | 8% | 47% | 21% | 92% |
| Design and Technology | 48 | 16% | 11% | 31% | 23% | 81% |
| Physical Education | 47 | 16% | 11% | 26% | 24% | 89% |
| Spanish | 42 | 14% | 19% | 19% | 27% | 60% |
| Drama | 30 | 10% | 7% | 37% | 27% | 93% |
| Religious Studies | 24 | 8% | 31% | 63% | 32% | 96% |
| German | 15 | 5% | 5% | 33% | 33% | 100% |
| Music | 12 | 4% | 5% | 50% | 33% | 100% |
| Chinese | 3 | 1% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
| Russian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 87% | — |
| Japanese | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Modern Greek | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 33% | — |
| Art and Design | 1 | 0% | 7% | — | 24% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 102 | 70% | — |
| Small Business Management | 76 | 52% | — |
| Beauty Care / Services | 50 | 34% | — |
| Sports Studies | 47 | 32% | — |
| Engineering Studies | 32 | 22% | — |
| Health Studies | 26 | 18% | — |
| Additional Mathematics FSMQ | 20 | 14% | — |
| Tourism | 20 | 14% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 18 | 12% | — |
| Music Technology (Electronic) | 18 | 12% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Arden | Solihull | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 307 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 145 | 1,697 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | B | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 39.51 | 34.83 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 21% | 15% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 63 | 43% | 31% |
| Business Studies | 43 | 30% | 13% |
| History | 35 | 24% | 13% |
| Psychology | 33 | 23% | 23% |
| Chemistry | 29 | 20% | 17% |
| Geography | 28 | 19% | 10% |
| Biology | 27 | 19% | 20% |
| Physics | 19 | 13% | 12% |
| Physical Education | 17 | 12% | 3% |
| Computer Science | 15 | 10% | 5% |
| Economics | 14 | 10% | 13% |
| Law | 14 | 10% | 4% |
| Media Studies | 12 | 8% | 4% |
| English Literature | 11 | 8% | 11% |
| English Language and Literature | 11 | 8% | 2% |
| Product Design | 9 | 6% | 2% |
| Politics | 8 | 6% | 6% |
| Further Mathematics | 8 | 6% | 5% |
| Religious Studies | 7 | 5% | 4% |
| Fine Art | 7 | 5% | 3% |
| Music | — | — | 0% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| D and T Textiles Technology | — | — | 0% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 13 | 9% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 13 | 9% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 9 | 6% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 9 | 6% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Solihull
Grace Academy Solihull
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 884 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 44.2
Heart of England School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,185 pupils
78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.2
John Henry Newman Catholic College
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,273 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.6
Langley School
Academy converter · 1,050 pupils
85% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.6
Light Hall School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,037 pupils
85% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.9
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.