20 worst performing mainstream Black Country schools based on GCSE results

Exam results in the core subjects of English and Maths are one of the key measures of secondary school performance.

Using Government data, we have put together a list of the five schools which have landed towards the bottom of the list of best performing in the Black Country, comprising of Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley.

The schools have been ranked according to what percentage of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths at the end of Key Stage 4 last year.

Grade 5 is a similar level of achievement to a high grade C or low grade B in the old grading system.

We have also included what percentage of pupils at these schools achieved Grade 4 or above, which is similar to achieving a grade C or above in the old grading.

Of course, there are several different factors that could affect how a pupil performs in their GCSEs. Their strengths could lie elsewhere in other subjects for example, rather than English and Maths.

The data is also based on last year's GCSE results and so the schools could have taken steps to make improvements this year.

This list only includes mainstream school and does not include schools for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, independent schools or other specialist schools.

Wolverhampton 

1. Ormiston New Academy 

Ormiston New Academy is a mixed secondary school in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 27 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and Maths, while 44.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Moreton School 

Moreton School is also a mixed secondary school based in Bushbury.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 25.1 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above, while 45 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and Maths.

3. Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy

Our Lade and St Chad Catholic Academy is a mixed secondary in Low Hill.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 23.3 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and Maths, while 47.5 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

 4. Ormiston SWB Academy

Ormiston SWB Academy is a mixed secondary school in Bilston.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 22.7 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and Maths, while 45.8 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

5. St Regis Church of England Academy

St Regis Church of England Academy is located in Tettenhall.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 22.2 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above, while 43.5 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and Maths.

Walsall

1. Shire Oak Academy

Shire Oak Academy is located in Walsall Wood.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024,  25.6 of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above while 46.6 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSE.

2. Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy

Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy is located in Shelfield, Walsall.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 23.1 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and Maths, while 57.9 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

3. Pool Hayes Academy

Pool Hayes Academy is based in Willenhall.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 22.2 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above, while 48.6 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and Maths.

4. Willenhall E-ACT Academy

Willenhall E-ACT Academy is based in Willenhall.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 19.7 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths and English, while 33.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

5. Bloxwich Academy

Bloxwich Academy is a mixed secondary school in Bloxwich.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 16 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above, while 37.6 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSE.

Dudley

1. The Link Academy 

The Link Academy is a secondary school based in Netherton.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 33.9 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above in 2024, while 51.4 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Beacon Hill Academy 

Beacon Hill Academy is based in Sedgley, Dudley.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 32.2 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 52.2 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

3. The Dormston School

The Dormston School is also located in Sedgley.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 30.4 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 52 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

4. The Wordsley School 

The Wordsley School is a secondary located in Stourbridge.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 30.3 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 49.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

5. Thorns Collegiate Academy

Thorns Collegiate Academy is a secondary school in Brierley Hill.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, a total of 20.5 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 43.4 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

Sandwell

1. Perryfields Academy

Perryfields Academy is a secondary school in Oldbury.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 29.2 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 48.2 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Holly Lodge High School College of Science

Holly Lodge High School College of Science is a secondary school in Smethwick.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 26.7 of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 52.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

3. Gospel Oak School

Gospel Oak School is located in Tipton.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 25.9 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE while 40.5 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

4. Wodensborough Ormiston Academy

Wodensborough Ormiston Academy is located in Wednesbury.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 20.5 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 40.9 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

Q3 Academy Tipton is a secondary school in Tipton.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 15.6 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 36.6 achieved Grade 4 or above.