Joseph Rowntree School
York, YO32 4BZ · York · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th of 9 secondary schools in York we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 876 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.8/10 among them, against 4.8/10 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 | 44.6 · 49 | 30% | 1.47 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.07 · 45 | 25% | 1.12 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.0 · 50 | 10% | 0.50 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Joseph Rowntree School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022. In 2024/25, 46.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.07 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.5 out of 10 among them, against 5.3 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and participate in Camps International Expeditions.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,248 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,328. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Joseph Rowntree School
Overview
Joseph Rowntree School continues to be a good school, where pupils value their learning and benefit from a "broad and ambitious curriculum." Leaders maintain high expectations, and staff are described as passionate, creating positive relationships that help pupils achieve well. The school provides strong support for sixth-form students and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- Teachers possess "strong, and in some cases excellent, subject knowledge" and explain new learning clearly, helping pupils retain important ideas.
- The sixth-form curriculum is strong, with students achieving well and moving on to "appropriate destinations."
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff recognising when action is needed and working well with external agencies.
- Pupils feel safe and happy, with bullying resolved "swiftly and effectively" by staff.
- Leaders provide a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including sports, theatre, and music, encouraging participation for pupils of all abilities.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should communicate more effectively with parents and carers of pupils with SEND to help them understand and check the impact of support.
- Staff should further develop the approach to reading so that older pupils read with purpose across the curriculum, as they currently do not read widely or often enough.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that staff are well-trained, leaders are informed about local and national matters, and pupils are taught how to stay safe through an effective personal development programme.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.8 |
| 2024/25 | 48.2 |
| 2025/26 | 46.0 |
| 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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