Tapton School

About Tapton School

If you're a parent in Sheffield considering Tapton School, the numbers suggest it's a popular choice. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 725 applications for 266 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.73. Of those, 287 put it as their first preference, and 256 of those families got a place. The Parent View survey, which ran between September 2024 and September 2025, saw 72% of the 289 respondents say they would recommend the school. That's a solid majority, though it's worth noting that 28% said they wouldn't. On specific questions, 76% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 80% felt their child is safe. The strongest signal came on expectations: 87% agreed the school has high expectations for their child, and 94% said their child can take part in clubs and activities.

Academically, Tapton is a strong performer. Its Progress 8 score of 0.54 is rated 'well above average' nationally, and it ranks 3rd out of 29 schools in the Sheffield local authority. That's significantly above the LA average Progress 8 of -0.4. At GCSE, 84.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score was 58.4. The school also pushes the English Baccalaureate, with 59.8% of pupils entering it and 48.3% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly strong: the average A-level grade per entry was a B, with a points per entry score of 38.89. The value added score of 0.23 is rated 'above average', meaning students typically leave with better grades than their prior attainment would predict. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024, the school was judged Outstanding across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision.

Tapton is a large secondary, with 1,763 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,568, so it's running above its official capacity. It has a sixth form and is a mixed, non-faith state school. Facilities are generous: a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, playing fields, science labs, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, hockey, netball, and gymnastics, while clubs range from coding and chess to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN. The school has a resourced provision and lists support for a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. However, the Parent View data on SEND support is more mixed: 50% of parents agreed the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 48% disagreed. With 17% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. For families who can secure a place, Tapton offers strong academic outcomes and a broad range of extracurricular opportunities, but the oversubscription means it's a competitive choice.

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