Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
91%
Capacity
1,475
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School sits within Lancashire local authority and is the top-ranked secondary in Ribble Valley, according to Progress 8 data, placing first out of six schools in that district. Across the wider Lancashire area, it ranks tenth among 90 same-type schools, with a Progress 8 score of 0.55 that puts it well above the national average. Its closest peers in the region by ranking score include Preston Muslim Girls High School, Eden Boys' School in Preston, and Holy Cross Catholic High School, though Clitheroe Royal Grammar School's score of 0.55 places it comfortably among the top-performing state secondaries in the North West, where it sits 46th out of 445 schools. The school is non-denominational, mixed, and serves pupils from age 11 through 18, with a headteacher, James Keulemans, leading a large student body of 1,475 against a capacity of 1,613.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 awarded Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This continues a pattern of excellence, as its previous inspection in 2006 also rated overall effectiveness as Outstanding. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 72.8 and a Progress 8 score of 0.55, significantly above the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11. The English Baccalaureate entry rate was 73.3%, with 71.3% of pupils achieving a strong pass in English and maths. At A-level, the school's average points per entry was 37.46, equivalent to a B- grade, and the best three A-levels averaged a B- as well. The sixth-form value-added score was -0.02, rated as Average, with 19.6% of students achieving at least AAB.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 427 applications for 173 places, with 213 first-preference applications and 172 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.47. Facilities include a library, ICT suite, science labs, theatre, astro turf, sixth-form centre, tennis courts, sports hall, and art studios. Sports on offer range from hockey and rugby to athletics and rounders, while extracurricular clubs include debate, orchestra, chess, Duke of Edinburgh, and Model UN. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and physical disabilities. With 11.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it draws from a broad local demographic. This is a strong choice for academically ambitious families who value high attainment and a well-resourced environment, particularly those prioritising a school with a proven track record in GCSE outcomes and a large, active sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | York Street, Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, BB7 2DJ |
| Headteacher | James Keulemans |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,475 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,475 / 1,613 (91% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.55)
447th of 3,141
Nationally
46th of 445
In North West
1st of 6
In Ribble Valley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
43.3
'22/23
37.2
'23/24
37.5
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
2022/2392%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 150 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)92%
- FE college3%
- Sixth form college2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2365%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 319 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
36%
Russell Group
49%
Top-third HE
3%
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)65%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education1%
- 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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Biology123
- Mathematics110
- Chemistry94
- Psychology94
- Business Studies:Single84
- Sociology82
- Physics58
- History55
- Economics50
- Government and Politics29
- Geography27
- English Language23
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed173
427
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
213 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:45
Source: crgs.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British62.3%
- Asian29.7%
- Mixed5.7%
- White (other)0.8%
- 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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
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
York Street, Clitheroe
Ribble Valley, BB7 2DJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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