Spen Valley High School
Liversedge, WF15 7LX · Kirklees · secondary school
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23rd of 25 secondary schools in Kirklees we can score, 27 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 0.9/10 against 640 of them, against 0.9/10 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 | 34% | 1.77 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.9 · 12 | 31% | 0.36 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.77 · 6 | 26% | 0.16 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.3 · 8 | 10% | 0.08 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Spen Valley High School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022. In 2024/25, 24.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.77 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.7 out of 10 either way).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join teams for football, rugby league, netball, gymnastics, table tennis, basketball, badminton, and striking and fielding.
Getting in
The published school roll is 958 pupils against a stated capacity of 960. 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 attainment gap with national medians? What specific interventions are in place for students with a negative Progress 8 score?
What Ofsted said about Spen Valley High School
Overview
The report describes a ‘nurturing school’ where ‘pupils flourish’ and leaders maintain ‘high expectations for all’. It highlights a strong focus on building positive relationships and supporting pupils’ emotional well-being, noting that staff are ‘trauma-informed’. While the overall effectiveness is rated as Good, the inspection identifies specific inconsistencies in curriculum planning and attendance that require attention.
Strengths
- Pupils feel safe, with bullying addressed ‘quickly and effectively’ by staff who understand local risks and support vulnerable children.
- Staff receive an ‘ambitious programme of training’, fostering collaboration and ensuring teachers know ‘what to teach and why’ in core subjects like English and mathematics.
- Leaders foster a love of reading through innovative initiatives, such as ‘fine dining taster menu’ events, and provide targeted support for those who struggle.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘well supported’, with a dedicated leader ensuring staff know how to help all pupils learn.
- The new personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum helps pupils learn about respect and identify signs of unhealthy relationships.
Areas to improve
- Curriculum planning is weaker in some subjects, such as science, where pupils ‘do not benefit from a well-planned and well-sequenced curriculum’ compared to others.
- Attendance remains an issue, particularly for vulnerable pupils, with leaders needing to ‘accelerate their work to improve pupils’ attendance’.
- The wider curriculum offer and careers programme are in ‘early stages of development’ and require leaders to enact plans to expand extra-curricular clubs and strengthen careers education.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, noting that staff know pupils well, identify those needing help, and refer concerns to external agencies appropriately.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.1 |
| 2024/25 | 35.7 |
| 2025/26 | 36.3 |
| 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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