Spen Valley High School
100%
Capacity
960
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Spen Valley High School
Spen Valley High School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school in Kirklees serving pupils aged 11 to 16. It is currently full to capacity with 960 pupils on roll, matching its stated capacity exactly. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 31.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national secondary average of around 24%. Demand for places is exceptionally high relative to supply. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 517 total applications for 186 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.78. Of those, 170 applicants named Spencer Valley as their first preference, and all 170 received offers. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular choice locally despite its challenging intake profile, and families should be aware that securing a place is far from guaranteed.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2022 rated it Good overall, with Good across all five graded categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. However, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.77 is classified as well below average and ranks it 23rd out of 24 secondary schools in Kirklees, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieve nearly eight-tenths of a grade less per subject than peers with similar starting points. The Attainment 8 score of 34.1 is also low, and only 25.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 5 measure). The EBacc entry rate is just 11.2%, with only 2.7% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.07, so Spencer Valley’s results sit significantly below the Kirklees norm.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, music rooms, science labs, and a library. Sports provision is notably varied, with rowing, martial arts, gymnastics, and dance alongside more traditional options. Clubs include Art Club, Chess, Model UN, Coding, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school has identified SEND provisions for pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (including dyslexia), Social Emotional and Mental Health needs, Speech Language and Communication needs, and Multi-Sensory Impairment. There is no sixth form, so pupils must plan for post-16 transition elsewhere. Given the high oversubscription and strong local demand, this school will suit families who prioritise a full, inclusive community feel and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that are below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Roberttown Lane, Liversedge, Kirklees, WF15 7LX |
| Headteacher | Kyle Audsley |
| Local Authority | Kirklees |
| Number of Pupils | 960 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.9% |
| School Capacity | 960 / 960 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 8 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.77)
2903rd of 3,141
Nationally
284th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
23rd of 24
In Kirklees
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/236%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 174 pupils).
- FE college37%
- Sixth form college29%
- Employment11%
- Not sustained10%
- School sixth form (stay)6%
- Apprenticeship6%
90% 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.
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
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed186
517
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
170 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.4%
- Asian9.7%
- Mixed4.8%
- White (other)1.9%
- Black0.1%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spen Valley High 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Roberttown Lane, Liversedge
Kirklees, WF15 7LX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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