Hamstead Hall is an Academy, serving the local area of Handsworth and Handsworth Wood. The Academy caters for approximately 1100 students across the range from 11 - 18 and reflects the religious and cultural diversity of the city. Opened in 1973 as Hamstead Hall School, it enjoys an attractive setting next to Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve and Handsworth Golf Course. The site stands in its own extensive grounds and playing fields. The facilities are first class and include: A state of the art Apple Computer Centre; Drama Studio; Lecture Theatre; a fully refurbished canteen and library; an Artificial Turf Pitch; Climbing Tower; fully refurbished areas of learning for English, Modern Languages, RE, Humanities, ICT and SEN. Hamstead Hall Academy has been at the forefront of inclusion and is one of six schools in the city with a Special Needs Resource Base. The Resource Base caters for 40 students who have statements for cognition and learning difficulties. "Hamstead Hall has been at the forefront of inclusion"