Shireland Collegiate Academy has received the Sutton Trust Fair School Admissions Award at Silver level for 2026/27, recognising its work to make its school admissions fairer for young people from different backgrounds and with a range of abilities.
The award recognised the Academy’s use of fair banding, an approach designed to ensure students with a range of abilities are represented in its intake. Children applying for a year 7 place sit a short reasoning test and are placed into one of five ability bands. Places are then allocated proportionately across the bands, helping to ensure the school intake reflects the range of abilities among applicants.
The approach reflects the Academy’s belief that every young person deserves a fair chance to access a good education, regardless of their background. By taking practical steps to make admissions fairer, Shireland aims to build a school community where pupils from different backgrounds can learn alongside one another and benefit from a shared educational experience.
Thomas Daly, Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy, said: “We want Shireland to be a school where children from across our local community have the opportunity to succeed. A child’s experience at school is shaped not only by what they learn in the classroom, but also by the experiences they share, the people they learn alongside and the confidence they develop as they grow.
“By ensuring our admissions process is fair, we help create a school community where pupils can learn from one another and are supported to achieve their ambitions. Every child deserves the opportunity to make the most of their education, whatever their background.”
The award is part of the Fair School Admissions programme, led by the Sutton Trust, a charity working to improve social mobility and widen opportunities for young people. The programme supports schools to review their admissions arrangements and identify ways to make them fairer.
Since the programme launched in March 2024, 118 schools have joined, with 108 awards granted.
Applications for parents applying for secondary school places through Sandwell are now open online. Parents of children moving into Year 7 can apply for a place via their local authority.
Families from all local authorities are welcome to apply. A guide to applications can be found here: Admissions – Shireland Collegiate Academy