The Holy Family Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Keighley, BD20 6LH · Bradford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
32nd of 35 secondary schools in Bradford 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 — 1.2/10 against 414 of them, against 0.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 21.2 · 4 | 46% | 0.21 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.59 · 12 | 38% | 0.46 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 31.7 · 2 | 15% | 0.03 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Holy Family Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 11.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. The Attainment 8 score was 28.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.59 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched 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 (0.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the BBC Radio Club and visit Leeds Cathedral.
Getting in
The published school roll is 630 pupils against a stated capacity of 992. 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 8 and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students starting from similar backgrounds? How does the BBC Radio Club integrate with the wider curriculum or extracurricular timetable?
What Ofsted said about The Holy Family Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Overview
The report states that pupils are safe and mix well, appreciating the respect and support from staff. However, it notes that pupils’ achievement is “significantly below national averages” and that they receive a “varied quality of education.” The inspection highlights inconsistencies in curriculum planning and behaviour management, particularly during lesson changeovers.
Strengths
- Pupils are “well supported with their mental health” and value the pastoral team.
- The school “effectively identifies the weakest readers” and provides support that helps them catch up.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “well supported” and access the full curriculum.
- Sixth-form students display “positive” conduct and a “strong sense of community.”
- Safeguarding arrangements are “effective.”
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure important knowledge is “identified and sequenced coherently” in all subjects.
- Teachers should use effective strategies to “check what pupils know” and address knowledge gaps.
- The school needs to consistently apply the attendance policy to improve rates, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
- Leaders must ensure pupils know how to behave with respect and “self-regulate” during unsupervised times.
- Leaders should monitor the impact of new strategies to fully understand their effect on education quality.
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 | 34.0 |
| 2024/25 | 28.8 |
| 2025/26 | 31.7 |
| 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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