Ripon Grammar School

About Ripon Grammar School

Parents considering Ripon Grammar School will find strong signals of local confidence. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 218 applications for 111 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.96. Of those, 147 families put it as their first preference, and all 111 places went to first-preference applicants. This level of demand reflects a school that local families actively choose. While the school does not publish a formal parent recommendation percentage, the oversubscription data speaks for itself: nearly two families apply for every available place, and the school fills its entire intake from those who want it most. The school is a state-funded mixed secondary with a boarding option, serving pupils aged 11 to 18 in North Yorkshire. It has a capacity of 975 and currently houses 942 pupils, meaning it is operating close to full but not overcrowded. Just 4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure well below the national average.

Academically, Ripon Grammar School delivers results that place it comfortably among the strongest schools in the region. Its Progress 8 score of 0.72 is rated 'Well above average' nationally, and it ranks 3rd out of 39 secondary schools in North Yorkshire. To put that in context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.07, so pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers across the county. At KS4, 97.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 91.5% achieved a grade 5 or above. The Attainment 8 score sits at 69.1, and the EBacc average point score is 6.48, with 77.5% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At sixth form, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection rated sixth form provision as Outstanding. A-level students achieved an average points per entry of 40.76, equivalent to a B grade, and 31% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The value added score of 0.07 is rated as Average, indicating that sixth formers make expected progress relative to their prior attainment.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, sports hall, music rooms, tennis courts, swimming pool, gymnasium, art studios, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, rugby, rounders, cross country, swimming, and hockey, while extracurricular clubs cover chess, Model UN, science club, debate, Duke of Edinburgh, book club, newspaper, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying for Year 7 entry in 2025/26 should be aware that only first-preference applicants received offers. This is a school that suits academically able children who thrive in a selective grammar environment, and it works well for families who value strong exam results, a structured sixth form, and a wide choice of enrichment activities.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ripon Grammar School

Helpful Guides for Parents