Fairfax
Fairfax Road, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7JTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Fairfax is a secondary school in Sutton Coldfield for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 501 schools in Birmingham. It ranks 6th of 8 secondary schools in Sutton Coldfield. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 21 May 2024, report published 16 June 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 21 May 2024
Fairfax is an inclusive and thriving school. Pupils enjoy coming to school and attend well. Their personal development is provided for exceptionally well. The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve. It has developed an ambitious and holistic curriculum that reflects those expectations. In lessons, pupils respond well to this and focus on their work. Many are keen to engage in discussion and debate. Relationships between pupils, and between pupils and staff, are respectful and courteous in lessons and around school. Pupils' behaviour during break and lunch times is brilliant. They conduct themselves very well in busy environments. Pupils understand the high standards and clear routines that are expected of them. Everyone participates in the rich life of the school. The house system is at the heart of this. Pupils and students in the sixth form speak highly of the house system and all the sporting activities they are involved with. They also greatly enjoy being part of the annual Eisteddfod that celebrates a wide variety of art forms. The school ensures that all pupils are involved and that those in the sixth form take the lead in organising. A wide range of other activities and leadership opportunities are open to all. These include peer mentoring, a range of interest groups and curriculum enriching trips.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum is yet to have a consistent impact for disadvantaged pupils. Therefore, some disadvantaged pupils are not achieving as highly as they could. The school needs to continue to embed and develop the curriculum in all subjects so that all pupils achieve well.
- Pupils' understanding is not always checked well enough before moving on to the next part of the curriculum. As a result, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge. The school should ensure that teachers check pupils' understanding consistently well. This will enable pupils to build knowledge more effectively over time.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
255 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
119 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,581 pupils on roll, with places for 1,584
Schools near Fairfax
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Sutton School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 39.7 |
| Plantsbrook School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.8 |
| Bishop Walsh Catholic School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 56.0 |
| Bishop Vesey's Grammar School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 77.1 |
| Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 79.4 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- FAIRFAX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Sean Castle
- Phone
- 01213781288
- Address
- Fairfax Road, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7JT
- Local authority
- Birmingham
- URN
- 136908
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.