Clifton Community School
Rotherham, S65 2SN · Rotherham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 16 secondary schools in Rotherham we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.5/10 against 123 of them, against 1.7/10 nationally. 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 | 31.9 · 18 | 30% | 0.54 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.44 · 19 | 25% | 0.47 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.0 · 9 | 10% | 0.09 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Clifton Community School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 18.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 29.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.44 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,146 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,250. 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 strategies are in place to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the recent Good inspection rating reflect changes in teaching quality since the last review?
What Ofsted said about Clifton Community School
Overview
This ungraded inspection found that "aspects of the school’s work may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection," triggering a future graded inspection. While pupils form strong relationships with staff and benefit from a well-planned curriculum, inconsistencies in teaching delivery and persistent attendance issues are hindering achievement, which remains below national averages.
Strengths
- Pupils form "strong relationships with staff" who "care deeply" and offer robust support, fostering a sense of belonging.
- The curriculum is "ambitious for all pupils," including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who "make good progress."
- Personal development is strong, with pupils building character through the ‘Clifton way’ and demonstrating a "strong understanding of protected characteristics."
- Leaders have "robust and effective systems" to improve attendance, which is currently improving over time.
- The school provides a "well-planned and wide-ranging careers programme," ensuring pupils are well informed about their next steps.
Areas to improve
- Ensure the curriculum is "consistently implemented" across all subjects so pupils gain the necessary depth of knowledge.
- Reduce the number of pupils missing lessons due to absence or behaviour sanctions, which creates "gaps in their knowledge."
- Ensure leaders use data effectively to monitor curriculum impact and drive "prompt" improvements where understanding is inconsistent.
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 | 35.0 |
| 2024/25 | 29.4 |
| 2025/26 | 37.0 |
| 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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