Beckfoot Upper Heaton

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of BECKFOOT TRUST

Thorn Lane, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 6AL

01274 493533 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 15 March 2018; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths31%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 20th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 19% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils679Room for 727 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 533 in 2019, 674 in 2021, 715 in 2022, 723 in 2023, 716 in 2024, 682 in 2025, 679 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.685 for 134 places, September 2026
24th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 11% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 March 2018.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

141 pupils in this year group.

31% — 6 points below the Bradford average, and 14 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBradfordEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 31% 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. 37.3 40.8 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.3 3.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 28%This school 2024/25: 31% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 28% 2024/25 31%

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.

138 pupils in this year group.

85% — 3 points below the Bradford average, and 7 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBradfordEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 85% 88% 92%
School sixth form 14% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 17% 11% 13%
Further education college 51% 39% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 0% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
83%85%

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?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered134
Families who put it first85
Of those, offered a place85 (100%)
Families who listed it at all259

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.6

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Bradford

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBradfordEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
12th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
45.2% 35.3%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
21st highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.4% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
30.4% 15.0%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
7th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
60.7% 28.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
23rd lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
13.7% 10.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
27th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
44.4% 30.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
21st lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
56.9 48.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
26th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
22.0% 12.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.15% 0.28% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
22nd highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 26% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.6 16.8 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
23rd highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.8 11.1 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford.
Higher than 94% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
28.6% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Beckfoot Upper Heaton's Ofsted rating?

Beckfoot Upper Heaton was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 March 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Beckfoot Upper Heaton do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 31% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Beckfoot Upper Heaton oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 85 families put Beckfoot Upper Heaton as their first choice for 134 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 85 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.