The Halifax Academy
Halifax, HX2 0BA · Calderdale · all-through school
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10th of 13 secondary schools in Calderdale 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 — 3.9/10 against 496 of them, against 2.3/10 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 | 30.1 · 16 | 30% | 0.47 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.2 · 35 | 25% | 0.87 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.6 · 18 | 10% | 0.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Halifax Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with the last inspection in 2023. In 2024/25, 32.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.2 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 (5.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,461 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,320. 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
What support is available for pupils who are behind in English and maths? How does the school maintain its Good rating while addressing the negative Progress 8 score?
What Ofsted said about The Halifax Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders are determined to provide an education that builds qualifications and confidence. Pupils benefit from a ‘character curriculum’ and programmes designed to help them ‘develop a voice to positively change their world’. While national examination results have not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, pupils are catching up on lost learning and behaviour is described as ‘calm and focused’.
Strengths
- Personal development is highly effective, with the ‘Voice’ programme helping pupils share views persuasively and increasing success in post-16 education.
- Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding; learning is ‘very rarely disrupted’ and bullying is minimal and dealt with promptly.
- Professional development for staff is ‘exceptional’, empowering teams to make improvements, such as significantly reducing persistent absence.
- Reading is a strength, with a new phonics scheme successfully implemented and struggling pupils identified quickly for extra support.
- The SEND team works effectively to ensure pupils with special educational needs match the learning of their peers before transitioning to mainstream lessons.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure that ‘important gaps in pupils’ knowledge and understanding’ arising from the COVID-19 pandemic are fully addressed, as some pupils did not achieve as highly as hoped in external examinations.
- Early years leaders have identified that mathematics provision requires further development to ensure children are ready for their transition to Year 1.
- More precise support is needed for a small number of pupils at the earliest stages of reading to help them catch up quickly.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff aware of risks and weekly multi-team meetings ensuring pupils receive the necessary support to stay safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.9 |
| 2024/25 | 44.1 |
| 2025/26 | 39.6 |
| 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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