Best Secondary Schools in Sheffield 2026

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

Sheffield has 26 open secondary schools. Of the 25 with a published Ofsted inspection, 3 (12%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 80% 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, Mercia 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 Sheffield 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.

26
Total schools
3
Outstanding (historic grade)
12%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.1%
Avg KS2 SATs
42
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Mercia School
Secondary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 High Storrs School
Secondary
 Good 79 View school
🥉 Silverdale School
Secondary
 Good 73 View school
4. Notre Dame High School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
5. King Edward VII School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
6. Newfield Secondary School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
7. All Saints' Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
8. Forge Valley School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
9. Tapton School
Secondary
 Outstanding 60 View school
10. Meadowhead School Academy Trust
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
11. King Ecgbert School
Secondary
 Outstanding 58 View school
12. UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
13. Ecclesfield School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
14. Stocksbridge High School
Secondary
 Good 52 View school
15. Fir Vale Academy
Secondary
 — 50 View school
16. Bradfield School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 49 View school
17. E-Act Parkwood Academy
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
18. Sheffield Park Academy
Secondary
 Good 46 View school
19. Westfield School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 44 View school
20. Outwood Academy City
Secondary
 Good 38 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 Sheffield

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

Nearby areas

Schools in RotherhamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BarnsleyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DoncasterCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DerbyshireCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Sheffield

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Sheffield?
There are 26 open secondary schools in Sheffield (closed schools are excluded). 3 of the 25 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 Sheffield?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Sheffield is Mercia 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 Sheffield?
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 Sheffield?
Primary and secondary applications in Sheffield 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 Sheffield 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.