Kirkburton Middle School
100%
Capacity
502
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Kirkburton Middle School
Kirkburton Middle School serves a narrow age range of 10 to 13, which is unusual for a secondary school and means it doesn't have its own Progress 8 score to compare against the Kirklees local authority average of 0.07. However, its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated the school Good overall, with two of the five key areas judged Outstanding: behaviour and attitudes, and personal development. That's a notable improvement from the school's previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Inadequate overall. The turnaround is significant — the earlier inspection had given top marks of 4 (the lowest grade) for behaviour, attitudes, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. The current inspection shows a school that has clearly addressed serious weaknesses and is now performing well above that baseline, even if its headline academic metrics aren't directly comparable to the LA average.
Because Kirkburton Middle School covers Years 6 to 8, it doesn't sit within the standard secondary school accountability framework for Progress 8 or Attainment 8, which are measured at the end of Year 11. The school has no sixth form, so there are no A-level results to report either. What the Ofsted breakdown does show is a strong focus on character and conduct: personal development and behaviour and attitudes both scored Outstanding, while quality of education and leadership and management were rated Good. The school has 502 pupils on roll, just one over its official capacity of 501, suggesting it is full to the brim. With 13.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a slightly above-average proportion of disadvantaged students compared with the national average for secondary schools, but it's not an outlier.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, music rooms, art studios, tennis courts, and playing fields, plus a chapel — unusual for a state school. Sports provision is extensive, with rowing, swimming, hockey, rugby, and athletics among the options. There are also plenty of clubs, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and a newspaper club. SEND support is comprehensive, covering nine different needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. The nearest Outstanding-rated secondary school is Shelley College, 3.3 km away, but Kirkburton's own Good rating and Outstanding behaviour and personal development grades make it a strong local option, especially for families who want a middle school model that bridges primary and secondary before pupils move on to a separate upper school.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 10 to 13 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Turnshaws Avenue, Huddersfield, Kirklees, HD8 0TJ |
| Headteacher | Chris Taylor |
| Local Authority | Kirklees |
| Number of Pupils | 502 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.7% |
| School Capacity | 502 / 501 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.6%
- Mixed5.6%
- Asian3.0%
- White (other)1.6%
- Black0.2%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
2
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 Kirkburton Middle 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Turnshaws Avenue, Huddersfield
Kirklees, HD8 0TJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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