Tadcaster Grammar School
93%
Capacity
1,500
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Tadcaster Grammar School
Tadcaster Grammar School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent graded inspections, including the most recent one in 2022. The school’s academic story is best told through its Progress 8 score, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs. At 0.27, this score is well above the national average of zero and significantly higher than the North Yorkshire local authority average of 0.07. This places Tadcaster Grammar in the top 15 out of 39 secondary schools in the county, and within the top 30% nationally. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 51.7 further reinforces its solid academic standing, with over three-quarters of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
Looking more closely at the data, the school’s Progress 8 score is driven by particularly strong results in maths, where the progress score reaches 0.39, and in the EBacc subjects, where it stands at 0.25. English progress is more modest at 0.09. The EBacc entry rate is 22.8%, with 19.8% of pupils achieving the full EBacc at a grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school continues to perform well, with a value-added score of 0.04 and an average points per entry of 38.19, equivalent to a B- grade. The average grade across the best three A-levels is a B, and a quarter of entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form’s progress banding is rated as Average, indicating that students make typical progress compared with similar students nationally.
Tadcaster Grammar is a large, mixed secondary school with 1,500 pupils and an official sixth form. It is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, there were 602 applications for 256 places, a ratio of 2.35 applicants per place, with 244 of those offers going to first-preference applicants. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision is extensive, with rowing, gymnastics, rugby, hockey, and swimming among the options. There is also a strong programme of clubs and activities, from chess and coding to Model UN and Young Enterprise. The school supports a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed state secondary with a strong academic record and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Toulston, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, LS24 9NB |
| Headteacher | A Parkinson |
| Local Authority | North Yorkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,500 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,500 / 1,614 (93% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 Oct 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.27)
896th of 3,141
Nationally
76th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
15th of 39
In North Yorkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
41.4
'22/23
34.2
'23/24
38.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 92 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
36%
Russell Group
42%
Top-third HE
4%
Oxford / Cambridge
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%
- Employment24%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education2%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
21Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed256
602
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
266 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.8%
- Mixed2.8%
- White (other)2.5%
- Asian0.6%
- 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
2024/25Half 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
0
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 Tadcaster Grammar 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
Toulston, Tadcaster
North Yorkshire, LS24 9NB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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