Dixons Cottingley Academy
96%
Capacity
862
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Dixons Cottingley Academy
Dixons Cottingley Academy is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school in Bradford for pupils aged 11 to 16. It currently has 862 pupils against a capacity of 900, meaning it is operating very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 35%, which is significantly higher than the national average and reflects the school's role in serving a local community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for entry in 2025/26, the school received 429 applications for 180 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.38 to one. Of those, 103 were first-preference applications, and 99 first-preference offers were made, indicating that the school is a popular first choice for many families in the area. The school is led by headteacher Francesca Hitch and was rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in November 2022.
Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.65 is classified as 'Well above average' nationally, placing it 3rd out of 34 schools in the Bradford local authority and in the top 25% of schools across England. This is a particularly strong result given that the Bradford LA average Progress 8 score is -0.19. The Attainment 8 score sits at 50.1, and 75.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 53.6% achieving a grade 5 or above. The school also has a high EBacc entry rate of 88.3%, though the proportion of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above is 36.3%, and 18.4% at grade 5 or above. In its Ofsted inspection, the school received Good ratings across all categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when the school was rated Inadequate.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, sports hall, swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and science labs. Sports on offer include netball, hockey, cricket, and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs range from science club and orchestra to film club and book club. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no sixth form, so pupils will need to plan for post-16 education elsewhere. For families in Bradford looking for a secondary school that has shown strong academic progress and is well-regarded locally, Dixons Cottingley Academy is a compelling choice, particularly given its high demand and strong Progress 8 outcomes relative to the local authority average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Cottingley New Road, Bingley, Bradford, BD16 1TZ |
| Headteacher | Francesca Hitch |
| Local Authority | Bradford |
| Number of Pupils | 862 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.0% |
| School Capacity | 862 / 900 (96% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.65)
327th of 3,141
Nationally
16th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
3rd of 34
In Bradford
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2323%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 149 pupils).
- FE college47%
- School sixth form (stay)23%
- Not sustained11%
- Sixth form college8%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
84% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed180
429
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
103 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% 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 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian82.0%
- Mixed3.9%
- White British3.2%
- White (other)3.0%
- 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.
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
1
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 Cottingley 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
Cottingley New Road, Bingley
Bradford, BD16 1TZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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