Best Secondary Schools in North Yorkshire 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 41 schools across North Yorkshire. Updated with 2025–26 data.

North Yorkshire has 41 secondary schools, of which 6 (15%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 26 rated Good — 78% of secondary schools in North Yorkshire are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Ripon Grammar School currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in North Yorkshire follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

41
Total schools
6
Outstanding
15%
Outstanding rate
61%
Avg KS2 SATs
41
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Ripon Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
🥈 Skipton Girls' High School
Secondary
 Good 89 View school
🥉 Ermysted's Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 87 View school
4. Harrogate Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 80 View school
5. Brayton Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 77 View school
6. Outwood Academy Easingwold
Secondary
 Outstanding 75 View school
7. Ryedale School
Secondary
 Outstanding 75 View school
8. St Aidan's Church of England High School
Secondary
 Good 73 View school
9. St John Fisher Catholic Academy
Secondary
 Good 71 View school
10. Upper Wharfedale School
Secondary
 Outstanding 70 View school
11. Lady Lumley's Academy
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
12. Sherburn High School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
13. Rossett School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 65 View school
14. Tadcaster Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
15. St Augustine's Catholic School - a Catholic voluntary academy
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
16. Scalby Academy
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
17. South Craven School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
18. Malton School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
19. Outwood Academy Ripon
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
20. King James's School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school

Related lists for North Yorkshire

All schools in North YorkshirePrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in North YorkshireReception–Year 6 only Outstanding schools in North Yorkshire6 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in North Yorkshire

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in North Yorkshire

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in North Yorkshire?
There are 41 secondary schools in North Yorkshire, of which 6 (15%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in North Yorkshire?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in North Yorkshire is Ripon Grammar School. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in North Yorkshire?
Primary and secondary school applications in North Yorkshire are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the North Yorkshire council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in North Yorkshire?
15% of secondary schools in North Yorkshire are rated Outstanding and 63% are rated Good. 76.4% are rated Good or Outstanding.

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.