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Ilkley Grammar School

Bradford, LS29 8TRSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Dec 2024
Progress 8
+0.54
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
354 1st-choice / 305 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#463 of 3,141 nationally

About Ilkley Grammar School

Ilkley Grammar School sits within Bradford local authority, where it ranks 5th out of 34 secondary schools on Progress 8, placing it in the top 15% locally. The three highest-ranked peers in the authority are Dixons Trinity Academy, Feversham Girls' Secondary Academy, and Dixons Cottingley Academy, all of which also post strong Progress 8 scores. Ilkley Grammar is one of only eight schools in Bradford rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a grade it has held across its two most recent inspections. The most recent graded inspection, in December 2024, awarded Outstanding in every category judged: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary with a sixth form, and it is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 885 applications for 305 places, with 354 first-preference applications and 296 first-preference offers.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressCowpasture Road, Ilkley, Bradford, LS29 8TR
HeadteacherCarly Purnell
Local AuthorityBradford
Number of Pupils2,172
Free School Meals (FSM)6.9%
School Capacity2,172 / 1,972 (110% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 367 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

10 Dec 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 26 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
ICT SuiteSwimming PoolSixth Form CentreGymnasiumMusic RoomsArt StudiosAstro TurfSports HallScience Labs

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

Martial ArtsGymnasticsRowingDanceNetballHockey

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubDuke of EdinburghGardeningBook ClubYoung EnterpriseModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ilkley Grammar School

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