Honley High School
100%
Capacity
1,289
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Honley High School
Honley High School’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.28 places it well above the Kirklees local authority average of 0.07, marking it as a secondary that is clearly adding more value than most of its neighbours. That score also earns the school a national ranking in the top 28% of all schools, and 7th out of 24 secondaries in the borough. The improvement story is equally striking: in its most recent graded inspection in 2015, Ofsted rated the school Requires Improvement, but by its ungraded inspection in December 2023 the school had not only reached Good but was confirmed to be maintaining that standard. Leadership and management were also judged Good, suggesting a stable and effective senior team under headteacher Elizabeth Lord.
Academically, the detail behind that Progress 8 score is worth unpacking. The school’s Attainment 8 figure sits at 51.3, and 64.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths — a solid benchmark. Maths progress is particularly strong, with a Progress 8 score of 0.45, while English progress is more modest at 0.15. The EBacc entry rate is 34.3%, and 21.3% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.57 is respectable for a non-selective state school. With 22.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school is serving a relatively disadvantaged cohort, making its above-average progress all the more notable.
Honley is a large 11-16 school with 1,289 pupils on roll, just over its official capacity of 1,285, and it is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 617 applications for 205 places, with 193 first-preference offers made. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and science labs, plus sports from tennis to martial arts and clubs like chess and Young Enterprise. Its SEND provision is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress in a well-equipped, inclusive setting, particularly those who value maths and science outcomes and want a school that has demonstrably turned around its performance.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Station Road, Holmfirth, Kirklees, HD9 6QJ |
| Headteacher | Elizabeth Lord |
| Local Authority | Kirklees |
| Number of Pupils | 1,289 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,289 / 1,285 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Dec 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (14 Dec 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 13 Nov 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.28)
883rd of 3,141
Nationally
75th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
7th of 24
In Kirklees
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
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 252 pupils).
- Sixth form college60%
- FE college22%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained4%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Employment2%
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.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed205
617
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
193 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 14:45
Source: honleyhigh.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British76.9%
- Mixed9.0%
- Asian6.6%
- White (other)2.6%
- Black0.3%
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.
2
Total schools
2
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 Honley High 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
Station Road, Holmfirth
Kirklees, HD9 6QJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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