The Birley Academy

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted judgements: Good

Birley Lane, Sheffield, S12 3BPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

The Birley Academy is a secondary school in Sheffield for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 188 schools in Sheffield. It ranks 25th of 33 secondary schools in Sheffield. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 13 May 2025, report published 1 July 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 May 2025

The Birley Academy has improved since its previous inspection. This view is shared by pupils, staff, parents and carers. Leaders have heightened their expectations for pupils' behaviour and achievement. Most pupils are living up to these expectations. As one older pupil noted, 'Behaviour is completely different now. You can actually learn in lessons.' Bullying has significantly reduced, and pupils are confident to report it and that it will be dealt with. Pupils are learning effectively in most subjects. Published outcomes, based on pupils' achievement in national examinations taken at the end of key stage 4 are improving year on year. Where there is still work to do to meet the higher expectations, such as pupils' learning of some aspects of the personal development curriculum, leaders are aware. Work is already in progress, but improvements have not yet become fully embedded. Pupils are safe and well cared for. The majority of pupils would now recommend the school, as would an increasing proportion of parents and carers. Pupils are proud to say they are part of The Birley Academy community.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects, teachers do not make adaptions to their teaching based upon what pupils know and can do. This includes for some pupils with SEND. As a result, some pupils' learning is less secure. The school should ensure that teachers apply the school's agreed teaching strategies more flexibly and adapt their teaching based upon the knowledge and understanding that pupils demonstrate in their learning.
  • The school's approaches to support pupils to attend more regularly have had varied impact. This means that some pupils continue to be absent from school too often. The school should ensure its work with families helps improve pupils' attendance consistently and effectively.
  • The implementation of the school's PHSE programme does not ensure that all pupils develop a secure understanding of issues such as democracy and an understanding of different faiths and religions. This means that pupils are not fully prepared for the next stage of their lives. The school should ensure that pupils learn these crucial elements of the school's planned personal development curriculum.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

219 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score37.2

37.2, 8.9 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths27.4%

27.4%, 18 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths51.6%

51.6%, 13.2 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc28.8%

28.8%, 11.7 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.22

3.22, 0.87 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,061 pupils on roll, with places for 1,163

Eligible for free school meals35.7%

35.7%, 9.2 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language10.5%

10.5%, 11.1 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support16.6%

16.6%, 1.8 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan6.9%

6.9%, 0.9 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near The Birley Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Outwood Academy City1 mileOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to goodAttainment 8: 40.4
Sheffield Springs Academy2 milesOfsted judgements: GoodAttainment 8: 38.9
Handsworth Grange Community Sports College2 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to goodAttainment 8: 36.6
Sheffield Park Academy2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 35.1
Newfield Secondary School2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 47.9

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
L.E.A.D. ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Mrs Victoria Hall
Address
Birley Lane, Sheffield, S12 3BP
Local authority
Sheffield
URN
143963

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.