Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,152 pupils
81% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.7
Academy converter
Swanshurst School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,928of 1,943 places
- Free school meals
- 45.2%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 327
- Ofsted
- School remains Outstanding, 15 May 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Swanshurst School (URN 103514, until 1 January 2025).
What the data says
Of the 298 pupils who finished Year 11 at Swanshurst School in 2023, 49% stayed on in Swanshurst School’s own sixth form (Birmingham average 33%), 25% went to a further education college and 2% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 139 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 67% went to university (Birmingham 46%, England 37%), and 36% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 50.2 against 46.1 across England and 46.6 in Birmingham, with 51% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average C+, below the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.
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 Birmingham and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Swanshurst School | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 298 | 14,526 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 94% | 90% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 93% | 88% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 49% | 33% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 18% | 13% | 13% |
| — further education college | 25% | 39% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Employment | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 4% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 2% | 4% | 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 | Swanshurst School | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 139 | 10,326 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 81% | 75% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 67% | 46% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 36% | 28% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 4% | 7% |
| Employment | 9% | 17% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 14% | 18% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Swanshurst School | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 50.2 | 46.6 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 51% | 45% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 72% | 64% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 69% | 48% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.67 | 4.15 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 49% | 48% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 44.5 | 40.2 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 55.6 | 52.5 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 37% | 39% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 325 | 99% | 88% | 18% | 22% | 74% |
| English Language | 322 | 98% | 89% | 20% | 20% | 76% |
| English Literature | 321 | 98% | 86% | 24% | 21% | 79% |
| Combined Science | 214 | 65% | 65% | 7% | 9% | 56% |
| Geography | 173 | 53% | 41% | 24% | 25% | 70% |
| History | 144 | 44% | 41% | 28% | 26% | 67% |
| Biology | 111 | 34% | 23% | 37% | 45% | 98% |
| Physics | 110 | 34% | 23% | 31% | 46% | 98% |
| Chemistry | 109 | 33% | 23% | 36% | 47% | 100% |
| Business Studies | 102 | 31% | 18% | 35% | 20% | 76% |
| French | 98 | 30% | 18% | 28% | 29% | 91% |
| Spanish | 92 | 28% | 19% | 28% | 27% | 76% |
| Religious Studies | 81 | 25% | 31% | 43% | 32% | 80% |
| Psychology | 79 | 24% | 3% | 19% | 22% | 70% |
| Design and Technology | 65 | 20% | 11% | 18% | 23% | 74% |
| Fine Art | 59 | 18% | 9% | 31% | 28% | 81% |
| Drama | 40 | 12% | 7% | 13% | 27% | 68% |
| Computer Science | 33 | 10% | 13% | 27% | 30% | 67% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 33 | 10% | 8% | 24% | 21% | 79% |
| German | 27 | 8% | 5% | 41% | 33% | 81% |
| Physical Education | 20 | 6% | 11% | 15% | 24% | 40% |
| Music | 10 | 3% | 5% | 20% | 33% | 80% |
| Urdu | 9 | 3% | 1% | 67% | 42% | 100% |
| Arabic | 4 | 1% | 1% | — | 47% | — |
| Italian | 3 | 1% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Chinese | 3 | 1% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
| Sociology | 2 | 1% | 4% | — | 21% | — |
| Turkish | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 71% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Studies | 120 | 100% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 18 | 16% | — |
| Tourism | 17 | 15% | — |
| Dance: General | 14 | 12% | — |
| Small Business Management | 8 | 7% | — |
| Health Studies | 3 | 3% | — |
| Sports Studies | 2 | 2% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 1 | 1% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Swanshurst School | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 291 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 115 | 4,724 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 33.35 | 34.88 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 12% | 22% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 46 | 40% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 45 | 39% | 17% |
| Mathematics | 34 | 30% | 31% |
| Psychology | 33 | 29% | 23% |
| Sociology | 29 | 25% | 13% |
| English Literature | 20 | 17% | 11% |
| Business Studies | 19 | 17% | 13% |
| Law | 10 | 9% | 4% |
| Politics | 8 | 7% | 6% |
| History | 8 | 7% | 13% |
| Physics | 7 | 6% | 12% |
| Economics | 6 | 5% | 13% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| Arabic | — | — | 0% |
| Product Design | — | — | 2% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Media Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Computer Science | — | — | 5% |
| Religious Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| Urdu | — | — | 0% |
| D and T Textiles Technology | — | — | 0% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 86 | 75% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 29 | 25% | — |
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 20 | 17% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 11 | 10% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 8 | 7% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 8 | 7% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 5% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 5% | — |
| Nutrition / Diet | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Birmingham
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Ark Boulton Academy
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Ark Kings Academy
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Ark St Alban's Academy
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Ark Victoria Academy
Free schools · 1,519 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.4
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.