Best Secondary Schools in Kirklees 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 24 schools across Kirklees. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Kirklees has 24 open secondary schools. Of the 24 with a published Ofsted inspection, 4 (17%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 92% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Heckmondwike Grammar School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Kirklees follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

24
Total schools
4
Outstanding (historic grade)
17%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
62.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
42.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Heckmondwike Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
🥈 Holmfirth High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 83 View school
🥉 Moor End Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 67 View school
4. Salendine Nook High School Academy
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
5. Honley High School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
6. King James's School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
7. The Mirfield Free Grammar
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
8. Manor Croft Academy
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
9. Royds Hall, A Share Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
10. BBG Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
11. Castle Hall Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
12. All Saints Catholic College
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
13. Upper Batley High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
14. Newsome Academy
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
15. Thornhill Community Academy, A Share Academy
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
16. Whitcliffe Mount, A Share Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
17. Westborough High School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
18. Colne Valley High School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
19. Shelley College, A Share Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 52 View school
20. Spen Valley High School
Secondary
 Good 47 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Kirklees

Best primary schools in KirkleesTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in KirkleesTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in KirkleesPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in KirkleesReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in CalderdaleCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BradfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WakefieldCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LeedsCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Kirklees?
There are 24 open secondary schools in Kirklees (closed schools are excluded). 4 of the 24 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Kirklees?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Kirklees is Heckmondwike Grammar School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Kirklees?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Kirklees?
Primary and secondary applications in Kirklees are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Kirklees council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.