The Skipton Academy
79%
Capacity
658
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About The Skipton Academy
The Skipton Academy is a secondary school in North Yorkshire that parents are keen to get into, with 338 applications for 163 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07. Of those applications, 113 were first-preference offers, meaning that while the school is popular, a significant number of families who put it as their top choice were successful. The school does not publish a parent-view recommendation score, so it is not possible to gauge satisfaction directly from that metric, but the high level of demand suggests it holds a strong local reputation. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Mark Cook. It has capacity for 835 pupils but currently has 658 on roll, so there is some room for growth.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Requires Improvement. However, the school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.62, which is well below average nationally and ranks it 37th out of 39 schools in North Yorkshire. The local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.07, so pupils here make significantly less progress than their peers across the county. Attainment 8 stands at 37, and only 41.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 6.8%, and just 2.7% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, science labs, art studios, music rooms, a sports hall, and playing fields, plus a chapel and sixth form centre despite having no official sixth form. Sports on offer include rugby, netball, cricket, swimming, and martial arts, and there are clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, choir, and orchestra. SEND provision covers dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and other difficulties. This is a school that has clearly turned a corner in terms of behaviour and leadership, but the academic outcomes remain a concern for families prioritising strong progress. It may suit those who value a broad extracurricular offer and a school that is actively improving, rather than one with top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Gargrave Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1UQ |
| Headteacher | Mark Cook |
| Local Authority | North Yorkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 658 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.5% |
| School Capacity | 658 / 835 (79% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.62)
2755th of 3,141
Nationally
262nd of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
37th of 39
In North Yorkshire
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
2022/2316%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 63 pupils).
- FE college68%
- School sixth form (stay)16%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained3%
- Employment2%
97% 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed163
338
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
113 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.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: theskiptonacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.0%
- Asian6.3%
- White (other)4.4%
- Mixed3.6%
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
3
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About The Skipton Academy
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
Gargrave Road, Skipton
North Yorkshire, BD23 1UQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at The Skipton Academy!
Write a Review