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Best Schools in Calderdale 2026 — Rankings, Ofsted Ratings & Reviews

Compare 97 schools and nurseries in Calderdale — Ofsted ratings, exam results & admissions data.

Calderdale is a metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire covering Halifax, Brighouse, Elland, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. With 97 schools set in the Pennine valleys, Calderdale offers a distinctive school environment. The borough has a mix of valley-bottom town schools and hillside village primaries.

Calderdale at a Glance

97Total schools — 82 Primary, 15 Secondary
93%Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating (97 inspected)
+0.06Average Progress 8 across 12 secondary schools
89Schools oversubscribed — more applicants than places available

Top Primary Schools in Calderdale

SchoolAreaOfstedKS2 RWM %ReadingMaths
St Mary's CofE (VC) J and I SchoolCalderdaleGood92%
The Greetland AcademyCalderdaleOutstanding83%
All Saints' CofE Primary SchoolCalderdaleOutstanding83%
Bowling Green AcademyCalderdaleGood82%
Bailiffe Bridge Junior and Infant SchoolCalderdaleGood81%

Top Secondary Schools in Calderdale

SchoolAreaOfstedProgress 85+ GCSE %EBacc %
The Crossley Heath SchoolCalderdaleGood+0.49100%82%
Trinity Academy GrammarCalderdaleGood+0.3866%65%
Ryburn Valley High SchoolCalderdaleGood+0.2173%14%
The North Halifax Grammar SchoolCalderdaleGood+0.1899%61%
The Brooksbank SchoolCalderdaleGood+0.1871%27%

Admissions in Calderdale — Key Dates

Calderdale Council coordinates admissions. The borough has a significant number of faith schools. Distance is measured by straight-line from home to school for most community schools.

Tip: Classpot shows the applications-to-places ratio for every school so you can gauge how competitive admissions are before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Calderdale?

North Halifax Grammar School, Crossley Heath School and The Brooksbank School are among the higher-performing secondaries. Brighouse High School and Calder High School in Mytholmroyd also achieve good results.

Are there grammar schools in Calderdale?

Crossley Heath School and North Halifax Grammar School are both comprehensive schools despite their historical names. There are no selective state grammar schools in Calderdale.

Is Halifax good for schools?

Halifax and Calderdale have a range of schools. The Brighouse area and parts of Halifax have strong schools. The borough benefits from relatively affordable housing compared to neighbouring Leeds and Bradford.

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