Upper Wharfedale School
Skipton, BD23 5BS · North Yorkshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
9th of 41 secondary schools in North Yorkshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 767 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.4/10 among them, against 6.4/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 42.5 · 44 | 30% | 1.30 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.6 · 88 | 25% | 2.20 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.9 · 65 | 10% | 0.65 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Upper Wharfedale School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 61.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.6 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.5 out of 10 among them, against 8.2 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in January 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Art Club, F1 in Schools, the School Production & Performing Arts Club, Chess Club, The Big Dig, the After School Archaeology Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Getting in
The published school roll is 351 pupils against a stated capacity of 350. 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
With the roll exceeding capacity by 1, how does the school manage class sizes for new entrants? How does the Progress 8 score of +0.6 translate into specific support for students aiming for higher grades? What does the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme involve for Year 9 students?
What Ofsted said about Upper Wharfedale School
Overview
Upper Wharfedale School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school is described as an enjoyable place to learn where staff and pupils care for each other, and pupils feel safe and happy. Leaders have ensured that high expectations are met, with pupils taking pride in their work and responding well to the support provided.
Strengths
- Pupils’ behaviour is a strength, with students being respectful and working together to help each other learn.
- The curriculum meets pupils’ needs, with teachers making learning interesting and checking understanding regularly.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well due to targeted support from staff who know them well.
- Reading is a high priority, with effective additional support and peer mentoring helping pupils become more confident.
- The school provides a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom, including visits abroad, ensuring high-quality spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Areas to improve
- On occasion, the school does not promptly identify areas for improvement, meaning it cannot always develop the quality of its provision.
- The school should ensure it has the information needed to identify and address any areas for improvement.
- At times, the school could do more to identify the reasons that some pupils struggle to improve their reading.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a sense of safety and belonging in the school.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.6 |
| 2024/25 | 48.3 |
| 2025/26 | 48.9 |
| 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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