Beckfoot Oakbank
84%
Capacity
1,503
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Beckfoot Oakbank
Beckfoot Oakbank, a large secondary school in Bradford, received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted in its most recent inspection in January 2025, though the school was not given an overall effectiveness grade. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.62, which is well below average nationally and places the school 27th out of 34 schools in the Bradford local authority. This means pupils leave with significantly lower attainment across eight GCSE subjects than students with similar starting points elsewhere. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 36, and only 26.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. Just 3.5% entered the EBacc combination of subjects, and the EBacc average point score was 2.98. Compared with the Bradford LA average Progress 8 of -0.19, Oakbank’s figure is notably weaker, and it ranks in the bottom 50 nationally by this measure.
The picture is more mixed in the sixth form, which was rated Good by Ofsted. With 49 pupils in the data, the sixth form achieved a value-added score of 0.14, classed as average, and pupils averaged a C grade per entry. The best three A-levels averaged 30.56 points, also a C grade. However, the school’s behaviour and attitudes were judged Inadequate in the most recent inspection, and leadership and management also received an Inadequate rating. Parent views, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, reflect significant dissatisfaction: only 32% of the 98 respondents would recommend the school. Just 41% agreed their child is happy, and only 50% felt their child is safe. Concerns about behaviour are prominent, with 67% disagreeing that the school ensures good behaviour, and 53% strongly disagreeing that SEND children receive the support they need.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 329 applications for 230 places and 167 first-preference offers, giving a ratio of 1.43 applicants per place. Facilities include a sixth form centre, sports hall, swimming pool, astro turf, music rooms, and art studios, with clubs ranging from coding and Model UN to choir and Young Enterprise. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 37.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Given the academic outcomes and parent feedback, this is a school that families would need to investigate closely, particularly around behaviour support and SEND provision, though the sixth form offers a more positive story for post-16 study.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Oakworth Road, Keighley, Bradford, BD22 7DU |
| Headteacher | Andrew Burton |
| Local Authority | Bradford |
| Number of Pupils | 1,503 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 37.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,503 / 1,800 (84% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 6 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.62)
2762nd of 3,141
Nationally
264th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
27th of 34
In Bradford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
34.8
'22/23
31.6
'23/24
28.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2331%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 274 pupils).
- FE college48%
- School sixth form (stay)31%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
92% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2381%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 73 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
23%
Russell Group
24%
Top-third HE
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)81%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology30
- Sociology19
- English Literature15
- History13
- Biology9
- Geography9
- English Language8
- Mathematics7
- Chemistry6
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
- Computer Studies / Computing5
- Design and Technology (Product Design)5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
98 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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed230
329
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
167 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.9%
- Asian21.5%
- Mixed3.3%
- White (other)2.5%
- Black0.1%
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.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Beckfoot Oakbank
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
Oakworth Road, Keighley
Bradford, BD22 7DU
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