SchoolScoresAppleton Academy
Academy · All-through, ages 3 to 16 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of EXCEED ACADEMIES TRUST
Woodside Road, Bradford, BD12 8AL
01274 600550 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 16 June 2026 , published 16 July 2026.
In short: 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
52 pupils in this year group.
63% — 3 points above the Bradford average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 63% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 12% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 81% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 75% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
163 pupils in this year group.
27% — 11 points below the Bradford average, and 18 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 27% | 38% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 35.1 | 40.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.8 | 3.6 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
159 pupils in this year group.
86% — 2 points below the Bradford average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 18% | 33% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 9% | 11% | 13% |
| Further education college | 55% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 87% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bradford. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in (Year 7)?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 163 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 164 |
| Of those, offered a place | 148 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 358 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
How hard is it to get in (Reception)?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 24 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 19 |
| Of those, offered a place | 19 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 50 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 20 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Speech, language and communication needs; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 52.2% | 35.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 92% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.1% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.3% | 15.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 23rd highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 28.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1% | 10.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 37% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 26.0% | 30.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 43.1 | 48.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 15th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 16% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.1% | 12.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.28% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 27th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 8% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.2 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 25th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6 | 11.1 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 20th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 51% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 13.4% | 16.7%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Lightcliffe Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hipperholme Grammar School 2.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Whitcliffe Mount, A Share Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Co-op Academy Grange 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 17% grade 5+ English and maths
- Brighouse High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Eternal Light 2.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 11% A*/A at A level
- The Fountain School 2.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 1 needs attention
- Eden Springs Girls Secondary 2.5 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 0% A*/A at A level
- Dixons City Academy 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Appleton Academy's Ofsted rating?
Appleton Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 16 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Appleton Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 27% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 18 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Appleton Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 164 families put Appleton Academy as their first choice for 163 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 148 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 145173.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.