Wilberforce College

About Wilberforce College

Wilberforce College sits within the Kingston upon Hull, City of local authority as one of 16 secondary schools of the same type. It is a mixed, non-religious state sixth-form college for students aged 16 to 99, led by headteacher Colin Peaks. In the local landscape, it ranks behind three named top peers: St Mary's College, Voluntary Catholic Academy (ranking score 0.63), Liberty Academy (0.47), and Lift Kingswood (0.24). While the college is not among the two outstanding-rated schools in the authority, its position among a competitive field of 16 schools gives parents a clear sense of where it sits locally. The college offers a broad age range that extends well beyond typical sixth-form provision, which may appeal to adult learners returning to education. Its facilities are notably extensive for a state college, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and astro turf, alongside dedicated music rooms and a sixth-form centre.

In its most recent A-level data from the 2023/24 academic year, Wilberforce College recorded a points per entry of 25.99, equivalent to a grade of C-. The average grade across the best three A-levels was also C-, with 25.91 points. The college's value-added score stands at -0.72, with a progress banding of 'Well below average', meaning students typically achieved lower grades than expected given their prior attainment. The lower confidence interval for value-added is -0.84 and the upper is -0.6, indicating a statistically significant negative effect. No students achieved the AAB combination in A-levels. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score (a different measure for GCSE-level progress) is -0.44, which suggests that overall attainment in Hull is below the national average, and Wilberforce's A-level outcomes reflect a similar pattern. With 135 pupils included in the data, the college's results are based on a reasonably sized cohort.

For families considering Wilberforce College, the practical offering is strong. The college provides a wide range of sports including football, hockey, basketball, swimming, and netball, plus clubs such as drama, science club, debate, choir, and book club. Facilities are generous: a sports hall, gymnasium, tennis courts, playing fields, science labs, and a theatre all feature. The inclusion of a chapel is unusual for a non-religious college and may reflect the building's history or broader community use. The college's oversubscription status is not provided in the data, so it is unclear how competitive admissions are. This college will suit families who value a broad extracurricular programme and extensive on-site facilities, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that fall below local and national averages. It may be particularly appropriate for students seeking a non-selective, inclusive sixth-form environment with adult learner provision.

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