St Aidan's CofE High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Church of England · Sixth form

Part of YORKSHIRE CAUSEWAY SCHOOLS TRUST

Oatlands Drive, Harrogate, HG2 8JR

01423 885814 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 19 May 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths68%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 89% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,966Room for 1,903 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,974 in 2019, 1,995 in 2021, 1,990 in 2022, 2,003 in 2023, 2,068 in 2024, 2,026 in 2025, 1,966 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.4339 for 248 places, September 2026
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 89% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 May 2022.

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 attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

North Yorkshire comparisons use the 17 of its 41 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 24 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 schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 7th highest of 17 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in North Yorkshire.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 80% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
5th highest of 17 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in North Yorkshire.
Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 85% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 4th highest of 17 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in North Yorkshire.
Higher than 84% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 79% 84%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 6th highest of 17 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in North Yorkshire.
Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82%said yes 78% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. North Yorkshire figures pool parents at the North Yorkshire 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

250 pupils in this year group.

68% — 21 points above the North Yorkshire average, and 22 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 68% 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. 56.4 46.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.0 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 71%This school 2023/24: 73%This school 2024/25: 68% This school England 45% 2022/23 71% 2023/24 73% 2024/25 68%

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.

277 pupils in this year group.

98% — 4 points above the North Yorkshire average, and 6 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 80%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. 98% 94% 92%
School sixth form 80% 34% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 13% 13%
Further education college 12% 35% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 5% 3%
Work 1% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
99%98%

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

459 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Average A level grade B- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 30% 29% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 56% 56% 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. 36.3 35.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 36.0This school 2023/24: 37.5This school 2024/25: 36.3 This school England 35 2022/23 36.0 2023/24 37.5 2024/25 36.3

A level subjects, 2024/25

37 subjects, 1,278 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 120 6% 16% 19%
Mathematics 117 12% 44% 40%
Chemistry 103 14% 41% 30%
Biology 96 14% 38% 27%
Physics 69 9% 25% 31%
Economics 68 6% 19% 26%
Sociology 67 1% 15% 20%
Geography 66 14% 26% 23%
History 66 3% 42% 23%
English Literature 58 12% 24% 23%
Business Studies:Single 54 0% 13% 16%
Government and Politics 47 11% 34% 26%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 38 3% 16% 14%
Religious Studies 34 12% 35% 22%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 28 0% 25% 17%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 26 23% 46% 38%
English Language 22 0% 18% 13%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 21 5% 5% 15%
Computer Studies / Computing 17 18% 41% 24%
Design and Technology (Textiles Technology) 16 0% 25% 19%
French 16 38% 81% 38%
Mathematics (Further) 16 25% 56% 59%
Ancient History 15 7% 33% 16%
English Language and Literature 14 0% 14% 16%
Dance 13 23% 46% 30%
Art and Design (Photography) 11 9% 36% 26%
Music Technology 11 9% 18% 15%
Spanish 11 9% 36% 34%
Drama and Theatre Studies 10 10% 30% 19%
Music 9 11% 33% 29%
Art and Design (Graphics) 7 0% 14% 32%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: German, Russian, Arabic, Italian, Modern Greek, Polish.

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.

496 students in this year group.

89% — 4 points above the North Yorkshire average, and 10 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 89% 85% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 8% 7%
Work 29% 31% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%89%

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.

502 students in this year group.

76% — 11 points above the North Yorkshire average, and 16 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 76% 65% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 38% 29% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
76%76%

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 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered248
Families who put it first339
Of those, offered a place235 (69%)
Families who listed it at all930

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.4

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.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in North Yorkshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolNorth YorkshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.6% 18.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 3.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.1% 13.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 28% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.0% 5.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 75% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.9% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 76% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
17.8% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.1 26.7 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
1.5% 7.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 78% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.2 17.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 91% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.3 12.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Harrogate.
Higher than 72% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
17.8% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is St Aidan's CofE High School's Ofsted rating?

St Aidan's CofE High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 May 2022.

How did St Aidan's CofE High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 68% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 22 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend St Aidan's CofE High School?

82% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Aidan's CofE High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Aidan's CofE High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 339 families put St Aidan's CofE High School as their first choice for 248 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 235 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.