The North Halifax Grammar School

About The North Halifax Grammar School

The North Halifax Grammar School is a mixed state secondary in Calderdale that is clearly in high demand. With 1,199 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,250, it is nearly full, and its admissions data for the 2025/26 intake tells a striking story: the school received 650 applications for just 179 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.63. Of those applicants, 207 put it as their first preference, and only 151 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 5.5%, which is notably lower than the national average for secondary schools, suggesting an intake that is less economically diverse than many of its neighbours. The school does not have a religious character, so its popularity appears to rest squarely on academic reputation rather than faith-based admissions. Headteacher Desmond Deehan leads a school that, while no longer rated Outstanding by Ofsted, continues to attract far more families than it can accommodate.

Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.18 means pupils achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than similar students nationally, comfortably ahead of the Calderdale LA average of 0.06. Attainment 8 sits at 68.4, and an impressive 93.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 61.1%, with 40% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, with an Outstanding rating for sixth-form provision. The sixth form itself performs solidly: a value-added score of 0.02 is in line with expectations, and the average A-level grade per entry is B-, with 15.2% of entries achieving AAB or higher. Nationally, the school ranks 1,129th out of 3,141 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the top 36% of schools across England.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including playing fields, an astro turf, art studios, a gymnasium, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports provision is extensive, with options from basketball and hockey to dance and gymnastics, and clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to gardening and a newspaper. SEND support is well-developed, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is that it is heavily oversubscribed and selective in practice, if not by admissions criteria. It suits families who prioritise strong academic outcomes and a structured, traditional grammar-school-style environment. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Trinity Academy Halifax, is just half a kilometre away, so families in the area have a strong alternative if they miss out on a place here.

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