Nidderdale High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of MOORLANDS LEARNING TRUST

Low Wath Road, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, HG3 5HL

01423 711246 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card5 expected, 1 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 28 April 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths31%England 45% · 2024/25
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 18% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils404Room for 425 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 367 in 2019, 394 in 2021, 401 in 2022, 393 in 2023, 407 in 2024, 395 in 2025, 404 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.751 for 70 places, September 2026
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 18% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 28 April 2026 , published 29 June 2026.

In short: 5 expected, 1 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.

AreaGrade
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. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
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.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

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

72 pupils in this year group.

31% — 16 points below the North Yorkshire average, and 15 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 31% 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. 41.8 46.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 16%This school 2023/24: 35%This school 2024/25: 31% This school England 45% 2022/23 16% 2023/24 35% 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.

73 pupils in this year group.

85% — 9 points below the North Yorkshire average, and 7 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 15%51%12%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 85% 94% 92%
School sixth form 15% 34% 34%
Sixth form college 5% 13% 13%
Further education college 51% 35% 37%
Apprenticeship 8% 5% 3%
Work 5% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%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 North Yorkshire. 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 offered70
Families who put it first51
Of those, offered a place51 (100%)
Families who listed it at all133

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.7

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 North Yorkshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
21.0% 18.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 98% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.1% 3.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.8% 13.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.5% 5.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 28% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.7% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 36% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
26.3% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.9 26.7 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 41% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 7.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 23% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.4 17.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.2 12.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 66% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
16.4% 14.6%* 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Nidderdale High School's Ofsted rating?

Nidderdale High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 28 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did Nidderdale High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 31% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 15 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Nidderdale High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 51 families put Nidderdale High School as their first choice for 70 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 51 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.