Dixons Allerton Academy

About Dixons Allerton Academy

Dixons Allerton Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.22 sits just below the Bradford local authority average of -0.19 for secondary schools, placing it squarely in the middle of the pack locally. The school ranks 18th out of 34 schools in the borough, which puts it around the 53rd percentile — not a standout performer, but far from the bottom. Its attainment 8 score of 43.4 and EBacc average point score of 3.97 are reasonable for a large all-through academy serving a diverse community, with 34.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024 rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019. Inspectors flagged quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all as requiring improvement, though sixth form provision and early years provision both held onto a Good rating. The school is heavily oversubscribed — 600 applications for 235 places in 2025/26 — suggesting strong local demand despite the regulatory rating.

Academically, the picture is mixed. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Progress 8 banding is ‘Below average’, with a score of -0.22 meaning pupils on average achieve slightly less than their peers nationally with similar starting points. The strongest progress was in maths (-0.06) and English (-0.08), while open subjects dragged the score down to -0.35. Just over 44% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and 13.6% secured the EBacc at grade 5 or above. At Key Stage 5, the story is brighter: the sixth form’s value added score of 0.37 is rated ‘Above average’, with a confidence interval that sits entirely above zero. The average A-level grade was a C+, and 13.3% of entries achieved AAB or higher. With 47 pupils in the cohort, the sixth form is relatively small but appears to add real value for its students, a notable contrast to the weaker KS4 outcomes.

The school is a genuine all-through provision, taking pupils from age 3 to 19, with nursery provision and a dedicated sixth form centre. Facilities are extensive — a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, and a chapel are all on site. The sports offer is broad, including rugby, martial arts, and dance, while clubs range from Model UN and debating to coding and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision covers a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. The school is oversubscribed by a factor of 2.55, with 178 first preference offers made from 187 first preference applications. This is a school that families in Bradford clearly want to send their children to, despite the Requires Improvement rating — likely drawn by its all-through model, strong sixth form value added, and wide-ranging facilities. It would suit families who value a large, inclusive community school with good extracurricular breadth and a sixth form that punches above its weight.

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