King James's School
89%
Capacity
1,522
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About King James's School
King James's School in North Yorkshire holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections. The school's Progress 8 score of -0.15 is the most telling academic metric, placing it in the bottom half of schools nationally and 27th out of 39 similar schools in the local authority. This score, which measures pupil progress from Key Stage 2 to GCSEs, sits below the North Yorkshire average of 0.07, meaning students here make slightly less progress than their peers across the county. The school's Attainment 8 score of 46.1 translates to an average GCSE grade of just below a C+, and 71.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The picture is more mixed at the top end, with only 13.4% of pupils entering the English Baccalaureate and 9.9% achieving it at grade 5 or above.
At A-level, the school's sixth form performs more solidly. With a value-added score of 0.08, students make progress broadly in line with the national average, and the average points per entry of 33.3 equates to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at C+ as well, and 10.8% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted and offers a genuine pathway for students who want to stay on after GCSEs. The school's Progress 8 breakdown shows that maths progress is exactly in line with the national average, while English and EBacc subjects lag slightly behind. Open subjects, which include arts and vocational qualifications, show a Progress 8 score of -0.13, close to the national average. This suggests that the school's academic strengths lie more in its sixth form provision and core maths teaching than in its GCSE English and humanities outcomes.
The school is heavily oversubscribed, with 496 applications for 258 places in the 2025/26 admissions round and 245 first-preference applications for 243 offers made. This level of demand suggests strong local reputation despite middling Progress 8 scores. Facilities are extensive and include a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school supports a wide range of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With 17.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative intake. King James's is best suited to families who value a large, well-equipped secondary with a strong sixth form and a wide choice of sports and clubs, and who are comfortable with GCSE outcomes that sit slightly below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | King James Road, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8EB |
| Headteacher | Miriam Oakley |
| Local Authority | North Yorkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,522 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,522 / 1,705 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Jan 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jan 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.15)
1901st of 3,141
Nationally
174th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
27th of 39
In North Yorkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.3
'22/23
33.9
'23/24
33.3
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
2022/2358%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 253 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)58%
- FE college31%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained2%
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
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 135 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
33%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)54%
- Employment33%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- History31
- Psychology30
- Business Studies:Single27
- Mathematics26
- Geography24
- Art and Design (Photography)18
- Sociology18
- Economics17
- Computer Studies / Computing15
- Media/Film/Tv Studies13
- Art and Design (Fine Art)12
- Biology11
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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed258
496
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
245 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% 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 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 British89.5%
- Mixed3.4%
- White (other)2.4%
- Asian1.1%
- 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.
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 King James's 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
King James Road, Knaresborough
North Yorkshire, HG5 8EB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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