Joseph Rowntree School
96%
Capacity
1,270
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Joseph Rowntree School
Joseph Rowntree School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.07 sits well below the York local authority average of 0.22, placing it eighth out of eleven secondary schools in the area. That gap of nearly three-tenths of a grade per subject is significant, and it means the school is the lowest-ranked in York for this key measure of pupil progress. The picture is mixed when you dig into the breakdown: pupils made slightly positive progress in maths (+0.03) and in the EBacc subjects (+0.09), but English dragged the average down at -0.22, and open subjects were even weaker at -0.23. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 45.8 is reasonable, and just over two-thirds of pupils (68.6%) achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 47.6% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The EBacc entry rate of 50.2% is healthy, but only 20.1% of pupils secured a grade 5 or above across the full EBacc combination.
At sixth form, the picture brightens considerably. The school’s value-added score of 0.1 is positive, and the average points per entry of 37.14 equates to a B- grade, with the best three A-levels averaging a B- as well. The sixth form is rated as having ‘Average’ progress nationally, and the 16.9% of entries achieving AAB or higher is respectable for a non-selective state school. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection in 2012 rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management also Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. That’s a notable improvement from the previous inspection in 2010, when it was judged to Require Improvement. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 377 applications for 204 places, with 180 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.85.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, sixth form centre, astro turf, sports hall, and dedicated art and music spaces. Its SEND provisions cover nine categories, from dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder to speech and language needs, which suggests a genuine commitment to inclusion. With 19.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is more disadvantaged than the national average. The school suits families who value a large, mixed comprehensive with a strong sixth form and good extracurricular breadth — clubs include DofE, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and debate, while sports range from rowing to martial arts. However, parents focused on academic progress should note that the school underperforms the local average at GCSE, and the nearest Outstanding-rated school, Huntington School, is less than a kilometre away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Haxby Road, York, York, YO32 4BZ |
| Headteacher | David Hewitt |
| Local Authority | York |
| Number of Pupils | 1,270 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,270 / 1,328 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Oct 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 5 Dec 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.07)
1680th of 3,141
Nationally
151st of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
8th of 8
In York
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.5
'22/23
39.4
'23/24
37.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 220 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college38%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained3%
97% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 95 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
25%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)67%
- Employment16%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- History23
- Sociology23
- Psychology21
- Mathematics20
- Biology15
- English Language14
- Physics12
- Chemistry11
- Art and Design (Graphics)10
- Art and Design (Photography)10
- Geography9
- English Literature8
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
377
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
180 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: josephrowntree.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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 British86.1%
- White (other)3.8%
- Mixed3.4%
- Asian2.2%
- Black0.5%
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
3
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Joseph Rowntree 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
Haxby Road, York
York, YO32 4BZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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