Photo: Roger D Kidd · CC BY-SA 2.0Bilston’s state schools: primary results beat 63% of towns in England, secondary results only 24%
A strong pass in English and maths, grade 5 or better, went to 38% of Bilston’s pupils, below both West Midlands’ towns (42%) and towns in England (45%). 15 state-funded schools are located in Bilston’s built-up area. Bilston grades C+ for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #15 of 35 in West Midlands. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Town figures are pupil-weighted across the schools the grade uses; England’s are the average school.
What stands out about Bilston’s schools
Strong primaries, weaker secondaries
Bilston’s secondary results beat 24% of English towns; its primary results beat 63%. 64% of the large town’s 11-year-olds meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England and 65% across Wolverhampton. The spread between primaries is wide: 75% at Loxdale Primary School, 50% at St Martin's Church of England Primary School. Every school’s result ↓
Popular schools are full
7 of 12 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as their official capacity. A full school gives places by its admissions rules, usually by distance after siblings. Getting a place ↓
Loxdale beats its intake
Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Loxdale Primary School, 47% of pupils are on free school meals and 75% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 55%. Results and intake ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
Bilston grades C+ for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
The primary figure lifts Bilston; the secondary figure holds it back.
The primary figure: 9 primaries in the town, 1,400 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 3 secondaries in the town, 559 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Where Bilston’s 15 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Bilston’s built-up area.
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table. The 3 secondaries are named.
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 29% at Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School to 61% at Field View Primary School. Against schools with the same intake, Loxdale Primary School does best: 75% with 47% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 55%. 7 of 9 primaries and 2 of 3 secondaries are above the line.
Show as a table
| School | Free school meals | Result | Typical for that intake | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loxdale Primary SchoolKS2 % | 47% | 75% | 55% | +20 |
| Moorcroft Wood AcademyKS2 % | 58% | 70% | 52% | +18 |
| Field View Primary SchoolKS2 % | 61% | 67% | 51% | +16 |
| Villiers Primary SchoolKS2 % | 50% | 69% | 55% | +14 |
| Wilkinson Primary SchoolKS2 % | 46% | 65% | 56% | +9 |
| The Khalsa Academy WolverhamptonAttainment 8 | 42% | 48 | 43 | +5 |
| Bilston Church of England Primary SchoolKS2 % | 52% | 58% | 54% | +4 |
| Ormiston SWB AcademyAttainment 8 | 56% | 40 | 38 | +2 |
| Holy Trinity Catholic Primary SchoolKS2 % | 29% | 62% | 61% | +1 |
| Stowlawn Primary SchoolKS2 % | 56% | 51% | 53% | −2 |
| St Thomas More Catholic School, WillenhallAttainment 8 | 41% | 41 | 43 | −3 |
| St Martin's Church of England Primary SchoolKS2 % | 55% | 50% | 53% | −3 |
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
How school places work in Bilston
Wolverhampton Council handles applications for every state school in Bilston, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 4 of Bilston’s 12 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Useful: Apply for a primary place (GOV.UK) · Apply for a secondary place (GOV.UK) · How admissions criteria work
How full each school is
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 7 schools are at or over it.
Show all 12 schools
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
15 state schools in Bilston
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 3 of Bilston’s 15 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
| School | Safeguarding | Achievement | Curriculum and teaching | Inclusion | Attendance and behaviour | Personal development and well-being | Leadership and governance | Early years | Sixth form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilston Nursery SchoolMay 2026 | Met | Strong standard | Strong standard | Strong standard | Strong standard | Strong standard | Strong standard | — | — |
| Ormiston SWB AcademyApril 2026 | Met | Expected standard | Expected standard | Expected standard | Strong standard | Expected standard | Expected standard | — | Expected standard |
| Wilkinson Primary SchoolFebruary 2026 | Met | Expected standard | Expected standard | Expected standard | Strong standard | Expected standard | Expected standard | Expected standard | — |
6 academy trusts and the council
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
| Run by | Schools | Pupils | Their letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Martin's Multi Academy TrustField View, St Martin's | 2 | 648 | BC− |
| Ormiston Academies TrustOrmiston SWB | 1 | 1,209 | C− |
| One Multi Academies Trust LimitedThe Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton | 1 | 763 | B |
| Shine AcademiesVilliers | 1 | 662 | B+ |
| Lighthouse Multi Academy TrustMoorcroft Wood | 1 | 260 | B+ |
| Central Learning Partnership TrustWolverhampton Vocational Training Centre | 1 | 71 | — |
| Wolverhampton CouncilSt Thomas More, Wilkinson, Bilston, Loxdale, Stowlawn, Holy Trinity, Bilston Nursery, Green Park | 8 | 3,829 | C−BC+A−C−B− |
Where Bilston’s teenagers go at 16
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
Every state secondary in Bilston has its own sixth form. City of Wolverhampton College, a further-education college, is in the large town.
| College | Distance |
|---|---|
| City of Wolverhampton CollegeFurther-education college · WV14 6BT | in Bilston |
| Dudley College of TechnologyFurther-education college · DY1 4AS | 3.5 mi |
| Walsall CollegeFurther-education college · WS2 8ES | 4 mi |
| Sandwell CollegeFurther-education college · B70 6AW | 4.7 mi |
Special schools and alternative provision in Bilston
Bilston has 2 special schools (Green Park and Wolverhampton Vocational Training Centre: 218 pupils). A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Wolverhampton Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑
Wolverhampton Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.
105th of 191 English towns of 24,000 to 47,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns either side of Bilston, and the top and bottom of the group.
| # | Town | Schools | KS2 | Attainment 8 | Grade 5+ E&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harpenden Hertfordshire | A+ | 79% | 60 | 72% |
| … | |||||
| 101 | Chippenham Wiltshire | C+ | 57% | 47.9 | 49% |
| 102 | Rowley Regis West Midlands | C+ | 61% | 46.1 | 39% |
| 103 | Wickford Essex | C+ | 64% | 42.3 | 37% |
| 104 | Abingdon-on-Thames Oxfordshire | C+ | 62% | 43.4 | 41% |
| 105 | Bilston West Midlands | C+ | 64% | 42.2 | 38% |
| 106 | Horley Surrey | C+ | 65% | 42.4 | 33% |
| 107 | Borehamwood Hertfordshire | C+ | 56% | 47.3 | 49% |
| 108 | Egham Surrey | C+ | 59% | 46.6 | 44% |
| 109 | Congleton Cheshire | C+ | 62% | 45.6 | 37% |
| … | |||||
| 191 | Herne Bay Kent | D− | 49% | 35.5 | 23% |
Bilston and the places around it
Coloured by School Grade.
| Town | Schools | KS2 | Att. 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilston 15 schools | C+ | 64% | 42.2 |
| Darlaston 8 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 1.4 mi | C | 60% | 41.6 |
| Coseley 9 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 2 mi | D | 55% | 41.5 |
| Tipton 16 schools · 2.2 mi | C− | 60% | 36.3 |
| Wednesbury 11 schools · 2.5 mi | C− | 55% | 42.4 |
| Willenhall 21 schools · 2.5 mi | D | 59% | 34.7 |
| Wolverhampton 98 schools · 2.8 mi | B | 65% | 46.4 |
| Sedgley 9 schools · 3.3 mi | C+ | 60% | 42.9 |
Wolverhampton has the best-graded schools nearby (B). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
- Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Bilston: 11% (England’s average school: 8%).
- Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
- Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
- Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
- Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
- Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
- Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Bilston
Are schools in Bilston good?
Bilston’s state schools earn a C+ against schools across England: primary results beat 63% of towns in England; secondary results beat 24% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Wolverhampton council.
What is the best secondary school in Bilston?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton: Attainment 8 of 47.8 and 48% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Bilston?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Loxdale Primary School: 75% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Bilston secondary schools have sixth forms?
Yes, all 3 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Bilston?
Through Wolverhampton Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Bilston are full?
7 of 12 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Bilston?
15 open state-funded schools are located in Bilston’s built-up area: 9 primary, 3 secondary and 3 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.