Beckfoot Thornton
Bradford, BD13 3BH · Bradford · secondary school
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24th of 35 secondary schools in Bradford we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.4/10 against 530 of them, against 1.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 24.0 · 7 | 30% | 0.20 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.49 · 16 | 25% | 0.41 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.0 · 4 | 10% | 0.04 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Beckfoot Thornton overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2023. In 2024/25, 35.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.49 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than the national average for similar starting points. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,243 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,300. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Beckfoot Thornton
Overview
The inspection found that Beckfoot Thornton provides a high-quality education with a ‘well-sequenced curriculum’ and ‘impressive’ pupil conduct. Leaders maintain high expectations, fostering a calm environment where pupils feel safe and are proud of their school. The report notes significant improvement from the previous inspection, highlighting effective leadership and a broad range of extra-curricular opportunities.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘well-sequenced’ with ‘comprehensive coverage of the national curriculum’, enabling pupils to access ambitious texts and a broad range of subjects.
- Pupil behaviour is exemplary; students move around the school ‘calmly’, are ‘polite and courteous’, and lessons have ‘very little disruption’.
- Leaders prioritise reading through a ‘well-planned reading programme’ and ‘Book Club’, helping pupils to ‘read increasingly well’.
- The school offers a ‘wider extra-curricular offer’ including sports, drama, and clubs, which ‘broaden horizons for many pupils’.
- Staff are supported with regard to workload and well-being, creating a positive culture where staff are ‘proud to work at the school’.
Areas to improve
- The school must intensify actions to reduce ‘persistent absence’, which is ‘too high, notably for disadvantaged pupils’.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is inconsistent; the school must ensure ‘all pupils with SEND get the support that they need’.
- The careers programme is ‘not implemented well enough’, leaving some pupils without a clear understanding of future pathways.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.3 |
| 2024/25 | 40.2 |
| 2025/26 | 34.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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