South Craven School

About South Craven School

South Craven School’s Progress 8 score of 0.2 places it comfortably above the North Yorkshire local authority average of 0.07, meaning pupils here make stronger academic progress than their peers across the county. That score also earns the school an ‘Above average’ national banding, and it sits 18th out of 39 secondary schools in the area — solidly in the top half. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 267 places in 2025/26, it received 565 applications, with 286 first-preference requests and 256 first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation. Headteacher Martyn Hill leads a large 11-18 mixed comprehensive of 1,860 pupils, which is over its official capacity of 1,769. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2013, but the current judgement still reflects a well-run school delivering above-average outcomes.

Looking at the exam data more closely, the school’s Attainment 8 score of 46.5 is solid for a state comprehensive, and 65.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths (the basics 94 measure). The EBacc average point score sits at 3.92, though only 19.6% of pupils entered the full EBacc suite, and just 11.8% achieved it at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly positive: a value-added score of 0.02 is in line with expectations, and the average A-level point score per entry is 31.66, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade, and the progress banding is rated ‘Average’. While English progress at KS4 is slightly negative at -0.05, maths progress is positive at 0.15, and the open element of Progress 8 — covering non-EBacc subjects — is notably strong at 0.37, suggesting the school’s wider curriculum adds real value.

The school is well equipped for a large secondary, with facilities including science labs, a sports hall, gymnasium, astro turf, playing fields, a sixth form centre, and art studios. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, cricket, tennis, football, and swimming. The extracurricular programme is broad, with clubs ranging from orchestra and drama to Model UN, Debate, Eco Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists a wide range of SEND provisions, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its size, oversubscription, and strong but not elite results, South Craven is best suited to families looking for a large, well-regarded comprehensive with a good sixth form and a broad offer, rather than a selective or highly academic environment.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About South Craven School

Helpful Guides for Parents