Yorkshire’s top schools have undergone quite a shake-up this year, with performance being measured in a slightly different way than usual.
Last week, the Department for Education released its new preliminary 2024/25 key stage 4 performance data for state-funded secondary schools across England - meaning the highest performing schools of the most recent academic year can now be named. This year, the default metric schools are sorted by is their Attainment 8 score - a purely performance-based figure derived from learners’ results in up to eight GCSE subjects.
It is temporarily standing in for the usual Progress 8 score, which measures pupil progress from the end of primary school through to when they sit their GCSEs. This can’t be calculated this year or next, because these cohorts didn’t sit their SAT exams in Year 6 due to the pandemic.
With the secondary school application deadline for next year’s new starters now less than a fortnight away, we’ve taken a look at the highest achieving state secondary schools across all of Yorkshire’s major council areas, based on their Attainment 8 scores for 2025. These scores go up to 90 and loosely align with GCSE 9-1 number grades, and we’ve limited our list to schools with an average score of 55 or above - similar to a strong pass of 5 or 6.
This of course, has meant many of the region’s selective grammar schools have really shone this year. But since grades aren’t everything, we’ve also made sure each one included on our league table had a positive mark in its latest Ofsted inspection. These are set to change shortly, but for now, we’ve only included schools with either a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ overall grade before last September, or positive ratings across all categories if they’ve been inspected since. This means that quality of education, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and safeguarding practices all met or exceeded official standards.
Here were Yorkshire’s 24 top schools, off the back of the most recent exam season:
13. Archbishop Holgate's School
Archbishop Holgate’s is an Anglican secondary academy in York, most recently rated ‘outstanding’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2024/25 school year, it had an Attainment 8 score of 56.5 – compared to a local average of 50.7, and a national average of 45.9. | Google
14. Ilkley Grammar School
Despite what its name might suggest, this is actually a comprehensive secondary academy, in Ilkley, in the Bradford borough. In a recent Ofsted inspection, it was found to be ‘outstanding’ in all categories. In the 2024/25 school year, it had an Attainment 8 score of 56.3 – compared to a local average of 40.7, and a national average of 45.9. | Google
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15. Silverdale School
This is a secondary academy in Sheffield, most recently rated ‘good’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2024/25 school year, it also had an Attainment 8 score of 56.3 – compared to a local average of 43.1, and a national average of 45.9. | National World/Scott Merrylees
16. St Aidan's Church of England High School
St Aidan’s is an Anglican secondary academy in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, most recently rated ‘good’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2024/25 school year, it again had an Attainment 8 score of 56.3 – compared to a local average of 46.5, and a national average of 45.9. | Google
17. Harrogate Grammar School
Actually a comprehensive school, this is a secondary academy – also in Harrogate. It was most recently rated ‘outstanding’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2024/25 school year, it had an Attainment 8 score of 56.2 – compared to a local average of 46.5, and a national average of 45.9. | Google
18. King Ecgbert School
King Ecgbert is a secondary academy in Dore, near Sheffield, which in a recent Ofsted inspection, was found to be ‘outstanding’ in all categories. In the 2024/25 school year, it had an Attainment 8 score of 56.1 – compared to a local average of 43.1, and a national average of 45.9. | Google