Archbishop Holgate's School, A Church of England Academy
96%
Capacity
1,818
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Archbishop Holgate's School, A Church of England Academy
Archbishop Holgate's School, a Church of England Academy in York, holds an Outstanding rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, a grade it has maintained across both its graded inspections. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.24, which is classed as 'Above average' nationally. This means that, on average, pupils here achieve nearly a quarter of a grade more per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. That score also places it just above the York local authority average of 0.22, and ranks it 4th out of 8 secondary schools in the area. In the 2023/24 exam results, 73.1% of pupils secured a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and the school's Attainment 8 score reached 50.1, indicating strong overall GCSE performance.
At A-level, the school's sixth form also performs well. Its value-added score of 0.4 is rated 'Well above average', meaning students make significantly more progress than expected between the end of GCSEs and their A-levels. The average points per entry sits at 42.31, equivalent to a B+ grade, and 28.6% of entries achieved grades of AAB or higher. The best three A-levels averaged a B+ grade as well. The school has a strong academic focus, with 53.8% of Key Stage 4 pupils entered for the EBacc suite of subjects, and 38.9% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of respondents to the Parent View survey would recommend the school, and 92% agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well there.
The school is heavily oversubscribed, receiving 550 applications for 295 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 316 first-preference applications for 284 offers. It is a Church of England academy with a formal sixth form, and its facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a chapel. It offers a wide range of sports and clubs, from football and rugby to Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision is broad, covering needs from dyslexia and autism to physical disabilities and speech and language difficulties. With 22.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. This is a strong, well-regarded choice for families in York who want consistently high academic progress and a full secondary experience through to sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Hull Road, York, York, YO10 5ZA |
| Headteacher | Lucie Pond |
| Local Authority | York |
| Number of Pupils | 1,818 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,818 / 1,900 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.24)
974th of 3,141
Nationally
84th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
4th of 8
In York
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
43.9
'22/23
42.3
'23/24
42.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 137 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
42%
Russell Group
46%
Top-third HE
4%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)67%
- Employment17%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education4%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Ofsted Parent View
12 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed295
550
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
316 families put this school as their 1st choice (57% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.0%
- Asian6.7%
- White (other)6.5%
- Mixed4.4%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Archbishop Holgate's School, A Church of England Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hull Road, York
York, YO10 5ZA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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