Ilkley Grammar School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding

Cowpasture Road, Ilkley, LS29 8TROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Ilkley Grammar School is a secondary school in Ilkley for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 227 schools in Bradford. It ranks 1st of 35 secondary schools in Bradford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 10 December 2024, report published 26 January 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 December 2024

Ilkley Grammar School is an amazing school. This is a school where every pupil gets a chance to shine. Academic success is very high. An extensive personal development offer ensures pupils achieve their personal best. School sports, trips and a vast range of clubs, including Model United Nations, creative writing and musical theatre, enable pupils to flourish. Pupils enjoy their lessons and behave in a way that enables deep, meaningful classroom learning. In business and economics, pupils discuss the impact of business ideas on society and politics in a carefully designed curriculum that goes beyond the specification. Staff are passionate about their subjects, and the impact of this is seen in the classroom. Pupils in all years explore subject topics by asking thoughtful questions and working together with complete focus. Whether pupils excel, or need extra help, this school supports them to fulfil their potential. The school's sixth-form students help set the positive tone for the whole school. They interact with younger pupils daily through leadership roles and at social times. They model kindness and teamwork. They mentor younger pupils and help them believe in themselves and what they are able to achieve. This supports pupils to experience and be proud of their success. The school has an on-site specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This resource provision is fully integrated into the school and successfully supports the whole school's ambition that every pupil is a valued member of the school community.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

311 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score56.5

56.5, 10.4 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths66.9%

66.9%, 21.5 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths85.2%

85.2%, 20.4 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc44.4%

44.4%, 3.9 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score5.03

5.03, 0.94 above the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

254 students

Average point score per A level entry37.66

37.66, 2.66 above the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade B-, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

2,219 pupils on roll, with places for 1,972

Eligible for free school meals6.9%

6.9%, 19.6 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language5.2%

5.2%, 16.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support15.2%

15.2%, 0.4 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.5%

3.5%, 2.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Ilkley Grammar School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
St. Mary's Menston, a Catholic Voluntary Academy4 milesOfsted judgements: OutstandingAttainment 8: 55.0
Bingley Grammar School5 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 46.5
Otley Prince Henry's Grammar School Specialist Language College5 milesOfsted judgements: OutstandingAttainment 8: 54.6
Carlton Keighley5 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 38.6
Guiseley School5 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 49.6

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
MOORLANDS LEARNING TRUST
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Carly Purnell
Address
Cowpasture Road, Ilkley, LS29 8TR
Local authority
Bradford
URN
136905

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.