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Holmfirth High School

Kirklees, HD9 7SESecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jun 2023
Progress 8
+0.72
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
264 1st-choice / 261 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#263 of 3,141 nationally

About Holmfirth High School

If you're a parent in Kirklees weighing up secondary options, Holmfirth High School sends a very clear signal of its popularity. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 446 applications for 261 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.71. That means nearly two families applied for every available spot, and all 261 offers went to first-preference applicants. While the school doesn't publish a formal parent satisfaction survey, this level of demand is a strong practical indicator that local families hold it in high regard. The school is led by headteacher Ben Stitchman and is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is one of only four schools in the local authority to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a status it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2023, where it scored top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHeys Road, Holmfirth, Kirklees, HD9 7SE
HeadteacherBen Stitchman
Local AuthorityKirklees
Number of Pupils1,329
Free School Meals (FSM)17.2%
School Capacity1,329 / 1,330 (100% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

20 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 1 Aug 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Art StudiosSwimming PoolTennis CourtsLibraryPlaying FieldsSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

HockeyFootballMartial ArtsTennisCross CountryRugbyAthleticsBadminton

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubDebateModel United NationsYoung EnterpriseNewspaperFilm ClubDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Holmfirth High School

Holmfirth High School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.