Dixons City Academy
100%
Capacity
904
Pupils
7.5x
Demand
About Dixons City Academy
Parent opinion at Dixons City Academy is broadly positive, with 79% of respondents to the most recent Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, drew 38 responses. The picture on specific questions is more mixed: 77% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and a similar proportion felt their child does well. However, only 55% agreed that the school lets them know how their child is getting on, and 58% felt concerns are dealt with properly. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 1309 applications for 174 places, an oversubscription ratio of 7.52 to one. Of those, 361 were first-preference applications, and 136 offers went to first-preference families. The headteacher is Raouf Mohammed.
Academically, Dixons City Academy performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.33 is rated as 'Above average' nationally, and places it 7th out of 34 secondary schools in the Bradford local authority. For context, the average Progress 8 score across all Bradford secondary schools is -0.19, so pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers in other local schools. The Attainment 8 score is 51.8, and 71.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2018, rated it Outstanding overall, with Outstanding for leadership and management and for sixth-form provision. An ungraded inspection in October 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and science labs. Sports on offer include cricket, rugby, rowing, and swimming, while clubs include art, book, eco, orchestra, and choir. Dixons City Academy has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is a state school in Bradford, Yorkshire and the Humber, and its capacity is 900 pupils, with 904 currently on roll. Given its strong academic outcomes and high demand, this is a school that suits families who prioritise progress and attainment and are comfortable with a large, popular urban secondary.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ripley Street, Bradford, Bradford, BD5 7RR |
| Headteacher | Raouf Mohammed |
| Local Authority | Bradford |
| Number of Pupils | 904 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.5% |
| School Capacity | 904 / 900 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Oct 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (16 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 20 Dec 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.33)
776th of 3,141
Nationally
65th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
7th of 34
In Bradford
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 172 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college23%
- Sixth form college19%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
96% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
38 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed174
1,309
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
361 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% 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 half 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian71.3%
- White British8.1%
- Mixed6.4%
- White (other)3.5%
- 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.
22
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
12
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 Dixons City 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
Ripley Street, Bradford
Bradford, BD5 7RR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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