Boroughbridge High School

  • Secondary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted: Requires improvement

Wetherby Road, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9JXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Boroughbridge High School is a secondary school in York for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 376 schools in North Yorkshire. It ranks 13th of 13 secondary schools in York. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in May 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 4 May 2023, report published 11 September 2023

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 May 2023

Staff know pupils well at Boroughbridge High School. There are positive relationships between pupils and staff. However, not all teachers have high enough expectations of pupils' behaviour and do not routinely challenge low-level disruption in classrooms. Most pupils enjoy attending the school, and the majority agree that if bullying does happen that it is dealt with well by leaders. Although many pupils feel safe in school, some do not. Some pupils in lower year groups say they are worried or concerned about the behaviour and conduct of some older pupils. When pupils are interested and engaged, they participate well in lessons. But some teachers allow pupils to shout out answers and do not always insist that all pupils participate fully in tasks. There are a range of extracurricular activities that pupils can participate in and pupils speak enthusiastically about these. They include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, several sports clubs, music sessions, an eco-club and computer coding and programming. More pupils in key stage 3 attend extracurricular activities than pupils in key stage 4. Pupils can also be part of the student council where they can lead fundraising events.

What the school should improve

  • Some staff do not consistently manage pupils' behaviour well. Some pupils are disruptive. This leads to learning being interrupted in some lessons. Leaders must ensure that all members of staff follow a consistent approach to managing and improving pupils' behaviour.
  • Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. This means that they miss lessons and fall behind in their learning. Leaders should continue to develop strategies to engage with these pupils so that their attendance improves.
  • Some teachers do not ensure that all pupils are actively involved in lessons. This means that not all pupils fully engage with learning and that there are not consistent strategies used to prevent some pupils from shouting out answers. Leaders must ensure that all teachers use consistent approaches so that all pupils know that they are expected to participate fully in lessons to maximise learning.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

65 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score43.0

43.0, 3.1 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38.5%

38.5%, 6.9 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths56.9%

56.9%, 7.9 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc36.9%

36.9%, 3.6 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.85

3.85, 0.24 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

388 pupils on roll, with places for 763

Eligible for free school meals22.9%

22.9%, 3.6 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language8.2%

8.2%, 13.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support26%

26%, 11.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan6.2%

6.2%, 0.2 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Boroughbridge High School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Cundall Manor School5 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 60.6
Queen Ethelburga's College6 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 24.4
Queen Ethelburga's Prep School6 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 38.8
King James's School6 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 46.1
Queen Mary's School6 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 26.8

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Miss Kathryn Stephenson
Address
Wetherby Road, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9JX
Local authority
North Yorkshire
URN
121699

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.