Aspire AP School 2
70 Raglan Road, Smethwick, B66 3NDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Aspire AP School 2 is a secondary school in Smethwick for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 133 schools in Sandwell. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 3 December 2024, report published 13 January 2025
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 3 December 2024
Parents and carers say this school changes the lives of their children. And they are right. Almost all pupils join the school after having previously been out of education for a long time. After some time at the school, pupils do well. They value staff's hard work and attend more regularly. This school is ambitious and aspirational for its pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Adults are committed to helping pupils overcome their barriers to learning and succeed. The meaningful relationships successfully make these aims a reality. As a result, pupils re-engage in their education and learn to learn again. Care, nurture and a sense of belonging permeate every aspect of the school. There is a strong focus on pupils' mental well-being after previous negative school experiences. Daily breakfast and lunches that all eat together help pupils gain a sense of belonging and feel part of the school community. Pupils say staff understand them and care about them. Pupils learn to behave well. Staff deal with any incidents of poor behaviour very effectively. All members of the school can explain their role in making Aspire AP School 2 a happy school.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum in some subjects does not clearly identify the precise knowledge and skills pupils should learn over time. This means that staff are not always clear on what to teach and when. The school should ensure that the curriculum in all subjects enables staff to teach the knowledge and skills pupils need to be successful.
- Occasionally, staff do not spot when pupils are ready to learn new content. As a result, some pupils are asked to do the same things and do not reach their potential. The school should ensure that staff have the required expertise to support all pupils' learning effectively.
- There is no systematic phonics approach in place to support pupils who are at the very early stages of learning to read. Consequently, these few pupils are not always as well supported as they could to learn to read. The school should ensure that there is a systematic approach in place to support pupils' reading.
Pupil numbers and mix
7 pupils on roll, with places for 15
Schools near Aspire AP School 2
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School | 0.2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 47.0 |
| Fortis Academy | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 37.9 |
| E-ACT North Birmingham Academy | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard to exceptional | Attainment 8: 43.9 |
| Oscott Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 1.8 |
| Arena Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 44.5 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Viviene Royal
- Phone
- 07943183021
- Address
- 70 Raglan Road, Smethwick, B66 3ND
- Local authority
- Sandwell
- URN
- 135608
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.