Westfield School

About Westfield School

Westfield School is a large secondary in Sheffield that is significantly over capacity, with 1,327 pupils on roll against a stated capacity of 1,020. That oversubscription is no accident: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 390 applications for 201 places, with 188 offers going to first-preference families from a pool of 200 first-choice applicants. The oversubscription ratio sits at 1.94, meaning nearly two families compete for every place. The school’s intake also reflects a higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 21.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national secondary average of around 23% and the Sheffield local authority average of roughly 22%. That figure suggests Westfield serves a community with above-average socioeconomic need, and the school’s popularity among local families indicates it is seen as a strong option within the city’s state secondary landscape, despite being a non-selective, non-religious mixed school for ages 11 to 16.

Academically, Westfield’s Progress 8 score of -0.54 places it well below the national average, and the school ranks 19th out of 29 secondaries in Sheffield on this measure. That puts it in the bottom half of the local authority, with a percentile rank of 65.5% — meaning about two-thirds of Sheffield schools outperform it on pupil progress. The Attainment 8 score of 39.7 is also below the national average of around 46.5, and just 25% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 5 measure), compared with 56.6% achieving grade 4 or above. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is very low at 6.6%, and only 3.1% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2014, rated it Good overall, with Good leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2013.

Westfield offers a broad range of facilities including playing fields, art studios, a gymnasium, music rooms, a theatre, and a sixth form centre — though the school does not have its own sixth form, so pupils must move on at 16. The sports programme is extensive, with options from rugby and netball to dance and badminton, and the clubs list includes popular enrichment activities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, coding, and debate. For families with children who have additional needs, the school’s SEND provision is notably comprehensive, covering ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Given its oversubscription and strong local reputation, this school is likely to suit families who prioritise a large, inclusive, community-focused environment over top-tier academic outcomes. Parents should be aware that the school is heavily oversubscribed and that securing a place typically requires a first-preference application.

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