Frequently Asked Questions
ARE THERE TUITION FEES?
BOA is a state-funded 14-19 Academy and therefore there are no fees for tuition*.
*others costs for uniform/equipment etc may be required.
HOW MANY PLACES ARE AVAILABLE?
Year 10 – 175
Year 12 – 175 *
* There are 325 places available in Year 12. Year 11 students currently enrolled at BOA have the 'right to transfer' into Year 12 ahead of external applicants. The right to transfer is dependent on a) whether a student will manage the demands of the Level 3 course they wish to study, in line with Pearson Edexcel's guidance on recruiting with integrity, and b) whether their transfer onto the Post-16 course would cause prejudice to the provision of efficient education for others and/or the efficient use of resources. If fewer Year 11 students transfer, the balance will be offered to external applicants who demonstrate aptitude.
Birmingham Ormiston Academy received 570 applications for the places available in Year 10 for September 2025.
Birmingham Ormiston Academy received 660 external applications for the places available in Year 12 for September 2025.
WHAT IS THE ACADEMY CATCHMENT AREA?
We will recruit most of our students from Birmingham and the surrounding metropolitan boroughs of Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. We expect 10% of our intake to come from the wider Midlands region. Please refer to Section 34 of BOA's admissions policy for details of the academy's 'normal recruitment area'.
Please note that due to funding regulations (Section 3, Subsection 61 of DFE's guidance on funding), we cannot accept applicants who are ordinarily resident in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. You will find more details of the DFE's funding guidance here:
why does the academy collect additional personal data via BOA applicaa?
As outlined in the Schools Admissions Code, UK schools and academies should only include supplementary information sections as part of the initial application form/process when the requested additional information has a direct bearing on decisions about oversubscription criteria or for the purpose of selection by aptitude or ability. UK schools and academies can request additional information if and only when there is a lawful basis to justify the request.
PLEASE NOTE: As part of the application process, the Academy asks applicants to share details of any medical needs and/or special educational needs to a) assist with its preparations for the aptitude workshop assessments, and b) to ensure any reasonable adjustments are in place to support individuals.
PLEASE NOTE: The sections on medical needs and special educational needs in the Academy's online application form are not mandatory fields. Applicants and families are not required to share any additional information with the Academy.
PLEASE NOTE: Whereas applicants and parents are encouraged to share all relevant personal information relating to medical needs or special educational needs during the admissions process, if such information is withheld, the Academy may be unable to identify or implement any reasonable adjustments that could support the applicant during aptitude assessments. Consequently, applicants who do not disclose these needs should not expect the Academy to make adjustments to the assessment process.
WHEN WILL OFFERS BE ANNOUNCED?
Confirmation of places will follow in March/April. All students who attended the aptitude workshops will receive an email from the Admissions Team advising whether they have been successful or not.
It is important that the email address provided with the application form is accurate.
Should you need to update this for any reason during the application process, then please email admissions@boa-academy.co.uk
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL?
There will be a right of appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel for unsuccessful applicants. The letter you receive will detail what to do if you wish to appeal.
IF I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL ON ONE PATHWAY FOR 2026 ENTRY, CAN I RE-APPLY FOR/REQUEST A PLACE ON ANOTHER PATHWAY?
No. Even if you appeal, this can only be for the same pathway as was originally chosen. We must also be fair to applicants who applied for our other pathways and who met aptitude, so they must be offered places on their chosen pathways.
You can reapply in the future for the next intake that you are naturally eligible for and choose a different pathway with that application (e.g. if unsuccessful for Year 10 entry, you can reapply for Year 12 entry).
I HAVE MISSED ALL APPLICATION DEADLINES. CAN I STILL APPLY? (1)/ CAN I JOIN MID-YEAR? (2)
- Once the final deadline has passed, we are unable to accept further applications.
- All students that attend BOA must secure their places via a rigorous selection process during our aptitude workshops in February - this is our admission criteria - and we are unable to run ad-hoc aptitude workshops outside of our designated weeks. Furthermore, due to continual assessment in our specialist pathways, students have to attend BOA for the full two-year duration of the course in order to achieve success.