Lift Firth Park

About Lift Firth Park

If you're researching Lift Firth Park, the parent experience is a significant factor to weigh up. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering responses from September 2024 to September 2025, only 21% of the 127 parents who responded said they would recommend the school. The picture from individual questions is challenging: 72% of parents disagreed or strongly disagreed that their child is happy, and 60% felt their child does not feel safe. On behaviour, 71% disagreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 77% disagreed that bullying is dealt with effectively. Concerns are another sticking point, with 71% of parents feeling they are not handled properly. On the positive side, 61% of parents agreed there is a good range of subjects, and 65% agreed their child can take part in clubs and activities. The school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 351 applications for 239 places and a ratio of 1.47 applicants per place, though only 158 of those were first-preference applications.

Academically, the school's performance sits below the local average. Its Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.45, compared with the Sheffield local authority average of -0.4, placing it 16th out of 29 schools in the area and in the bottom 50% nationally. The Attainment 8 score was 36.9, and the basics measure (a grade 4 or above in English and maths) was achieved by 56.4% of pupils, dropping to 35% for a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 3.32, with 50.5% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent graded inspection in June 2025, Ofsted rated the school as Requires Improvement across the board — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all received that grade. This is a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2015.

Lift Firth Park is a large 11-16 mixed secondary in Sheffield with 1,164 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,350. Over half of its pupils (53.9%) are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, gymnasium, sports hall, science labs, library, and art studios, and runs clubs such as chess, debate, choir, and eco club. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering this school, the data suggests it may suit those who are particularly engaged in advocating for their child's experience, especially given the low parent satisfaction scores and the Requires Improvement rating. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Chapeltown Academy, 2.8 km away.

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