SchoolScoresJoseph Rowntree School
Voluntary controlled school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Haxby Road, New Earswick, York, YO32 4BZ
01904 552100 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 November 2012.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 13 October 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
225 pupils in this year group.
46% — 10 points below the York average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 56% | 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. | 48.2 | 50.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 4.5 | 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.
211 pupils in this year group.
91% — about the same as the York average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 91% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 45% | 40% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | Not published | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 36% | 42% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 91% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
78 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B- | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 32% | 37% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 58% | 68% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 37.5 | 35.5 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
22 subjects, 204 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 25 | 8% | 28% | 19% |
| Mathematics | 23 | 17% | 57% | 40% |
| Sociology | 17 | 12% | 47% | 20% |
| Art and Design (Photography) | 16 | 0% | 13% | 26% |
| Physics | 13 | 8% | 31% | 31% |
| Chemistry | 12 | 8% | 58% | 30% |
| Geography | 12 | 8% | 17% | 23% |
| Biology | 11 | 0% | 18% | 27% |
| History | 11 | 9% | 18% | 23% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 9 | 11% | 44% | 59% |
| English Language | 8 | 0% | 25% | 13% |
| Art and Design (Graphics) | 7 | 14% | 43% | 32% |
| Art and Design (Textiles) | 6 | 0% | 0% | 36% |
| Business Studies:Single | 6 | 0% | 0% | 16% |
| Economics | 6 | 0% | 17% | 26% |
| Government and Politics | 6 | 0% | 33% | 26% |
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 6 | 17% | 17% | 17% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: English Literature, French, Spanish, Art and Design (Fine Art), Computer Studies / Computing.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
82 students in this year group.
91% — 12 points above the York average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 91% | 79% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 10% | 7% |
| Work | 33% | 38% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 91% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
95 students in this year group.
74% — 25 points above the York average, and 14 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 74% | 49% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 39% | 18% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 74% | 74% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 York. 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 offered | 185 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 154 |
| Of those, offered a place | 154 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 374 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 10 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.0% | 18.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.3% | 4.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.0% | 11.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 36% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.8% | 8.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 15% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.9% | 9.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 27% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.0% | 23.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 29.9 | 30.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 46% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.2% | 7.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.08% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 19% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.2 | 17.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.7 | 12.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 12% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 6.9% | 11.2%* | 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
- Huntington School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Vale of York Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Peter's School 2-18 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 49% A*/A at A level
- Bootham School 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 46% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Joseph Rowntree School's Ofsted rating?
Joseph Rowntree School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 November 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 13 October 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Joseph Rowntree School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 46% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Is Joseph Rowntree School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 154 families put Joseph Rowntree School as their first choice for 185 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 154 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 121711.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.