Best secondary schools in Calderdale
10 of 11 secondary schools ranked by Progress 8 · all Calderdale schools · primary schools
Ranked on Progress 8, 2023/24 — the most recent year each school has published. Official data, not our opinion — but the ranking is only as good as the measure, and a single number never describes a school.
- 8 of 11 rated Good or Outstanding
- 2 oversubscribed on first preference
- 4 Good or better and undersubscribed — the overlooked ones
- Median Progress 8: 0.12 (best 0.49)
| # | School | Progress 8 | Ofsted | Places | Catchment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Crossley Heath School Halifax grammar | 0.49 | Good | oversubscribed 1.66 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 2 | Trinity Academy Grammar Sowerby Bridge hidden gem | 0.38 | Good | undersubscribed 0.74 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 3 | Ryburn Valley High School Sowerby Bridge | 0.21 | Good | about even 1.03 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 4 | The Brooksbank School Elland | 0.18 | Not judged | about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 5 | The North Halifax Grammar School Halifax grammar | 0.18 | Good | oversubscribed 1.33 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 6 | Rastrick High School Brighouse hidden gem | 0.06 | Good | about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 7 | Trinity Academy Halifax Halifax | 0.0 | Outstanding | about even 1.09 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 8 | Brighouse High School Brighouse hidden gem | -0.24 | Good | about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 9 | Lightcliffe Academy Halifax | -0.37 | Not judged improving | undersubscribed 0.78 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
| 10 | Park Lane Academy Halifax | -1.1 | Not judged | undersubscribed 0.81 first prefs per place, 2026/27 | approximate |
Also in Calderdale
1 further secondary school with no published Progress 8 for the latest year — usually too small a cohort to report, newly opened, or a special school. Listed because leaving them out would make this a misleading picture of Calderdale, not a fairer one.
- Todmorden High School, A SHARE Academy Ofsted: Good hidden gem
Applying in Calderdale
Knowing which school is best is only half of it — these are the deadlines that decide whether you can apply at all.
- Selective / 11+ test date 2026-09-19 · 2027 entry Calderdale grammar schools entrance test (GL Assessment)
- Selective test results released 2026-10-17 · 2027 entry Results by 17 October 2026
- Secondary application deadline 2026-10-31 · 2027 entry Common Application Form deadline
- Primary (Reception) application deadline 2027-01-15 · 2027 entry Primary (Reception) application deadline for September 2027 entry. National statutory deadline 15 January 2027; apply via your home local authority.
- Secondary National Offer Day 2027-03-01 · 2027 entry National Offer Day
- Primary National Offer Day 2027-04-16 · 2027 entry Primary National Offer Day for September 2027 entry — Reception place offers (16 April).
Rankings compare published results. They do not tell you which school your child will get into — that depends on where you live, sibling and faith priority, and how many people apply this year. Ask below, or check the Calderdale admission criteria.
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT