Shelley College, A Share Academy
97%
Capacity
1,279
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Shelley College, A Share Academy
Shelley College, A Share Academy, is a state secondary in Kirklees that has been rated Outstanding in every category of its most recent Ofsted inspection, which took place in December 2024. The school received top marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. But the most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.56, which means pupils at Shelley College achieve nearly two-thirds of a grade more per subject across eight GCSEs than the average student nationally with similar prior attainment. That figure is well above the Kirklees local authority average of 0.07, and it places the school third out of 24 secondary schools in the area, putting it in the top 13% nationally. The school also ranks 23rd out of 306 schools in Yorkshire and the Humber, making it a strong performer within its region.
Digging into the GCSE results, 80.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and 61.3% reached the higher grade 5 threshold. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 52.1, and its EBacc average point score is 4.96, with over three-quarters of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress in maths is particularly strong, with a Progress 8 score of 0.75, while English and EBacc subjects also show positive progress at 0.43 and 0.67 respectively. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.13, which is rated as Average, and the average points per entry is 28.66, equating to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a grade C as well, with 7.5% of entries achieving grades AAB or higher. The sixth form is officially part of the school and was also rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Shelley College is a 13-18 school with 1,279 pupils on roll, just under its capacity of 1,319. It has a lower-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 13.6%. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include football, rugby, athletics, swimming, basketball, and dance, while extracurricular clubs range from Model UN and Debate to Coding, DofE, and Eco Club. The school’s SEND provisions cover areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent feedback is broadly positive, with 76% of respondents saying they would recommend the school, though opinions are more divided on SEND support and how concerns are handled. For families looking for a high-performing state secondary with a strong sixth form and a broad range of activities, Shelley College is a compelling option.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 13 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Huddersfield Road, Huddersfield, Kirklees, HD8 8NL |
| Headteacher | David Wadsworth |
| Local Authority | Kirklees |
| Number of Pupils | 1,279 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,279 / 1,319 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Dec 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.56)
421st of 3,141
Nationally
23rd of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
3rd of 24
In Kirklees
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
31.0
'22/23
28.9
'23/24
28.7
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
2022/2333%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 356 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)33%
- Sixth form college29%
- FE college23%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
96% 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
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 138 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
24%
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)55%
- Employment22%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education3%
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- Psychology44
- History31
- Art and Design21
- Biology19
- Media/Film/Tv Studies19
- English Language18
- Sociology18
- Geography16
- Mathematics16
- Religious Studies13
- Chemistry12
- Design and Technology (Product Design)10
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.
Ofsted Parent View
289 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.6%
- Mixed4.3%
- Asian1.7%
- White (other)1.5%
- 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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
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 Shelley College, A Share Academy
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
Huddersfield Road, Huddersfield
Kirklees, HD8 8NL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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