Colne Valley High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of GREAT HEIGHTS ACADEMY TRUST

Gillroyd Lane, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5SP

01484 848680 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 18 September 2019; some aspects weaker 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths34%England 45% · 2024/25
9th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 26% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,360Room for 1,447 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,225 in 2019, 1,353 in 2021, 1,385 in 2022, 1,426 in 2023, 1,436 in 2024, 1,440 in 2025, 1,360 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9194 for 218 places, September 2026
5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 37% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 September 2019.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 January 2025: Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

532 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Huddersfield comparisons use the 8 of its 12 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 4 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolHuddersfieldEngland
My child is happy at this school
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 5% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
49% 70% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 6% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
57% 76% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 2% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
26% 60% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 231 parents whose child had been bullied
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 14% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
34% 48% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 470 parents who had raised a concern
7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 10% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
46% 60% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 123 parents of children with SEND
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 3% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
22% 44% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Huddersfield.
Higher than 3% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
28%said yes 61% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 37%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Huddersfield figures pool parents at the Huddersfield schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

294 pupils in this year group.

34% — 13 points below the Kirklees average, and 11 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKirkleesEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 34% 47% 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. 42.4 46.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 4.1 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: 38%This school 2023/24: 35%This school 2024/25: 34% This school England 45% 2022/23 38% 2023/24 35% 2024/25 34%

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.

262 pupils in this year group.

90% — 2 points below the Kirklees average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 42%30%10%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolKirkleesEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 92% 92%
School sixth form 4% 16% 34%
Sixth form college 42% 33% 13%
Further education college 30% 35% 37%
Apprenticeship 10% 5% 3%
Work 4% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%90%

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 Kirklees. 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 offered218
Families who put it first194
Of those, offered a place194 (100%)
Families who listed it at all354

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

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 Kirklees

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKirkleesEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.0% 29.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 51% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.0% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 13.7%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
9th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.3% 20.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
10th lowest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Lower than 39% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.0% 8.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Lower than 54% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.7% 21.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
9th lowest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Lower than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
31.5 26.5 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
9th lowest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 8.3% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils 0.28% 0.21% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 98% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
21.8 17.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 88% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.9 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 12 state secondary schools in Huddersfield.
Higher than 95% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
29.7% 14.4%* 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 Colne Valley High School's Ofsted rating?

Colne Valley High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 September 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 January 2025, Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.

How did Colne Valley High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 34% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Colne Valley High School?

28% of the 532 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Colne Valley High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Colne Valley High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 194 families put Colne Valley High School as their first choice for 218 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 194 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.