Students and staff at a Solihull school are celebrating after new Government figures placed it as one of the fastest-improving schools in the country.
In a stunning transformation, Smith’s Wood Academy, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi Academy Trust (FMAT), has emerged as one of the fastest-improving schools in the country and the top improver in the region, according to newly released Department for Education data.
Led by Principal Steve Huntington since March 2023, the academy has undergone a dramatic revival.
He said: “I’m really happy that the children and community now have a school they can be proud of. Their hard work and determination to succeed is starting to pay off.”
The validated 2025 GCSE results reveal a 10-point increase in the government’s headline Attainment 8 measure since 2023 — equivalent to every student achieving one grade higher in every subject across the school.
This places Smith’s Wood Academy as the top improver in the West Midlands and 15th nationally.
Attendance has also surged, rising by over 5% — a rate more than ten times the national average — highlighting growing student engagement and trust in the school’s direction.
“I’m really happy that the children and community now have a school they can be proud of. Their hard work and determination to succeed is starting to pay off,”
– Principal Steve Huntington
FMAT’s Director of Education, Martyn Jobling, praised the transformation.
He said: “The whole Trust is immensely proud of Steve and his team. They are enriching lives and transforming futures. This data is just one part of the story, but it’s a powerful indicator of how far the academy has come.”
Smith’s Wood Academy’s journey from struggle to success is now a beacon of hope for educational communities across the region.
