Ark Victoria Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Birmingham for children and young people aged 3 to 18. In January 2026, 271 of its 1,519 pupils (17.8%) were getting SEN support and 18 (1.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–18
- 1,519 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Birmingham.
17.8% get SEN support
271 of 1,519 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.2% have an EHC plan
18 of 1,519 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty86
- Speech, language and communication82
- Social, emotional and mental health65
- Autism24
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia13
- Hearing impairment6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 3 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,519 (places for 1,920)
- Headteacher
- Principal Ela McSorley
- Part of
- Ark Schools
- Free school meals
- 68.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Birmingham
- School reference (URN)
- 141752
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Birmingham council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, March 2019; improved significantly (October 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Improved significantly (ungraded inspection, October 2024).
Contact and getting there
Talbot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham, B10 0HJ
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- St Benedict's Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Marlborough Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Everything Education School Independent · Ages 11–16 0.7 miles
- R.Y.A.N Education Academy Independent · Ages 13–17 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.2%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.2 miles
- Redhill Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23.5%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.5 miles
- The Olive School, Small Heath Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Birmingham SEND schools in Birmingham
Questions about Ark Victoria Academy
How many pupils at Ark Victoria Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 271 of the 1,519 pupils (17.8%) were getting SEN support and 18 (1.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ark Victoria Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (86 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (82 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (65 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ark Victoria Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Ark Victoria Academy?
Through Birmingham council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Ark Victoria Academy?
You can ask for Ark Victoria Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Ark Victoria Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is St Benedict's Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Ark Victoria Academy?
Talbot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham, B10 0HJ, in Birmingham.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.