Bradford Academy
similar schools
Bradford Academy is a sponsored academy in Bradford for boys and girls aged 2 to 19. It has 1,549 pupils and room for 1,891. About 51 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 5 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 6% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2025, no overall grade.
Lister Avenue, Bradford, BD4 7QS01274 256789bradfordacademy.co.ukMrs Melanie Saville principalAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 29 April 2025, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
221 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 221 | 230 | 231 | 229 | 228 | 229 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 33.1 | 33.1 | 33.8 | 38.4 | 36.1 | 38.3 | 41.5 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | -0.94 | -0.92 | -0.40 | -0.55 | -0.32 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 23% | 25% | 22% | 31% | 27% | 21% | 38% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 46% | 44% | 39% | 47% | 48% | 53% | 58% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 2.94 | 2.90 | 2.87 | 3.24 | 3.03 | 2.85 | 3.63 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 58% | 26% | 35% | 38% | 35% | 6% | 45% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 28.5 | 26.3 | 30.6 | 32.0 | 30.5 | 31.1 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 39.1 | 39.5 | 37.3 | 43.8 | 40.9 | 43.3 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 16.5 | 19.2 | 28.6 | 18.7 | 22.7 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 52.6 | 53.2 | 65.1 | 51.6 | 56.0 | – | – |
Subjects
Results came out for 13 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.
Strongest subjects
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Spanish (7% here, 54% across England), Geography (16% here, 51% across England), Computer Science (23% here, 56% across England), History (22% here, 52% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 221 | 5% | 28% | 43% | 54% | 3,098 of 3,210 |
| English Literature | 218 | 8% | 38% | 57% | 58% | 2,788 of 3,202 |
| Mathematics | 217 | 9% | 27% | 50% | 53% | 3,068 of 3,211 |
| Combined Science | 197 | 3% | 19% | 38% | 36% | 2,657 of 3,084 |
| History | 144 | 5% | 22% | 32% | 52% | 2,999 of 3,126 |
| Spanish | 131 | 2% | 7% | 12% | 54% | 1,932 of 1,941 |
| Art and Design | 49 | 2% | 33% | 51% | 58% | 2,450 of 2,818 |
| Religious Studies | 48 | 6% | 48% | 67% | 60% | 1,397 of 1,825 |
| Geography | 44 | 5% | 16% | 36% | 51% | 3,043 of 3,116 |
| Computer Science | 22 | 5% | 23% | 36% | 56% | 1,729 of 1,861 |
| Biology | 19 | 37% | 79% | 84% | 82% | – |
| Chemistry | 16 | 44% | 100% | 100% | 81% | – |
| Physics | 16 | 25% | 94% | 100% | 82% | – |
In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
60 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 60 | 60 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 61 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 48% | 57% | 42% | 57% | 57% | 39% | 61% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 104.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 102.0 | 99.0 | 104.7 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 103.0 | 104.0 | 100.0 | 103.0 | 102.0 | 99.0 | 103.9 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 103.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 103.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 104.3 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 57% | 73% | 61% | 65% | 69% | 49% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 60% | 73% | 61% | 78% | 71% | 54% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 60% | 63% | 50% | 68% | 60% | 67% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -0.8 | +1.2 | -1.3 | -1.3 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -1.4 | +3.0 | -0.1 | -1.2 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 38% | 45% | 33% | 41% | 48% | 31% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 65% | 69% | 49% | 66% | 67% | 48% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
A level and sixth-form results, 2025
56 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 56 | 67 | 83 | 77 | 177 | 249 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | – | – | – | – | 23.98 | 22.87 |
| Average A level grade | z | z | z | z | D+ | D+ |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | – | – | – | – | 26.25 | 16.42 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | – | – | – | – | 0% | 8% |
| A level progressA level value added | – | – | – | – | -0.51 | -0.07 |
| Applied general courses: points per entry | 29.87 | 27.98 | 30.76 | 31.32 | – | – |
| T levels: points per entry | – | – | – | 22.14 | – | – |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | – | – | – | – | 77% | 79% |
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 4 of the 7 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At GCSE, 2025
At the end of primary school, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Open to all. There is no entrance test. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
About 213 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 6% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
The last child to get a place lived 1.0 miles away in 2026, 1.5 miles away in 2025, 1.1 miles away in 2022. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 1.0 miles from the school, under the sibling rule. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Secondary | 230 | 443 | 230 | 1.0 miles (sibling) | LA |
| 2025 Primary | 60 | 86 | 46 | – all offered | LA |
| 2025 Secondary | 230 | 476 | 230 | 1.5 miles | LA |
| 2023 Secondary | 230 | 546 | 234 | – | LA |
| 2022 Secondary | 230 | 594 | 230 | 1.1 miles | LA |
| 2021 Secondary | 230 | 622 | 232 | – | LA |
The distances are the council's own, usually measured in a straight line from home to the school gate. If the distance is getting shorter each year, the school is getting harder to get into. See which councils we have this data for.
What a home within 1.3 miles of the school costs
Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 21 pupils, for autism, physical disability, social, emotional and mental health.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Bradford with autism provision.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 24.2 pupils (England 26.2); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.9 (England 28.2).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (107), language and communications needs (82), Moderate learning difficulty (74), Autistic spectrum disorder (44), Physical disability (17), Hearing impairment (8).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 1,549 | 1,682 | 1,738 | 1,746 | 1,766 | 1,761 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 50% | 50% | 45% | 42% | 41% | 39% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 24% | 23% | 25% | 28% | 29% | 32% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 15% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 15% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 5% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 86.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 13.6% | 14.2% | 14.0% | 14.4% | 10.2% | 7.3% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 2.6% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 3.5% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.1% | 8.8% | 5.6% | 3.8% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 37.6% | 40.2% | 42.7% | 47.7% | 29.5% | 19.3% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 28.8 | 48.2 | 33.3 | 30.8 | 13.2 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 1 | – | – |
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 231 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 76%, compared with 89% for everyone else.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 82% | 87% | 85% | 88% |
| Education | 78% | 84% | 82% | 80% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 1% | 2% | 5% |
| Not in education, work or training | 9% | 9% | 9% | 8% |
After sixth form
Where the 67 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 79%, compared with 77% for everyone else.
Where the ones heading for university went
Among students from low-income families, 57% went on to degree-level study or training.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 78% | 74% | 84% | – |
| Education | 46% | 42% | 65% | – |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 10% | 4% | 0% |
| Work | 28% | 22% | 14% | – |
| Not in education, work or training | 18% | 22% | 10% | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oastlers School | Academy | 100 m | 179 | Report card 2026 | – | Compare |
| Lower Fields Primary Academy | Academy | 530 m | 395 | Good 2023 | 39 | Compare |
| Darul Uloom Dawatul Imaan | Independent | 620 m | 169 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| Bradford Forster Academy | Academy | 660 m | 892 | No overall grade 2025 | 6 | Compare |
| Park Aspire Alternative Provision Academy | Academy alternative provision converter | 850 m | 68 | Good 2020 | – | Compare |
| Bowling Park Primary School | Academy | 0.6 miles | 615 | Not inspected | 76 | Compare |
| Bradford Beacon School | Independent | 0.7 miles | 15 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| Knowleswood Primary School | Academy | 0.7 miles | 363 | Not inspected | 1 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Bradford Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Bradford Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson Academy | Academy | 2.8 miles | 1,503 | No overall grade 2025 | 19 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 5 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 5% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 4 to 8. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | well below | -0.26 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 221 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | below | -0.09 | Ofsted grade, 1.4 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | well below | -0.35 | DfE progress measure; 221 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | in line | -0.03 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well below | -0.15 | 2024/25; 1,534 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well below | -0.16 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 221 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | well below | -0.09 | 231 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Bradford Academy a good school?
The figures are weak. Bradford Academy scores 5 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 6% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 4 to 8, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Bradford Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Bradford Academy not judged at its last full inspection on 29 April 2025.
How good are Bradford Academy's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 23% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 33.1, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.
How good are Bradford Academy's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 48% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 2% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Bradford Academy have?
1,549 pupils aged 2 to 19 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,891 places, so it is 82% full.
Is Bradford Academy oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?
Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 1.0 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.
What is attendance like at Bradford Academy?
Pupils were in school 86.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 38% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Bradford Academy?
The average class had 20.8 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 2% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Bradford Academy have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for autism, physical disability, social, emotional and mental health. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does Bradford Academy have a breakfast club?
Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.
Does Bradford Academy have a sixth form?
Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was z.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Lister Avenue, Bradford, BD4 7QS
- Telephone
- 01274 256789
- Website
- www.bradfordacademy.co.uk
- Principal
- Mrs Melanie Saville
- Free breakfast club
- Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- All-through school, ages 2-19, with nursery, with sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Leeds (ce)
- Single-academy trust
- Bradford Academy Trust (1 schools)
- Local authority
- Bradford
- Ward
- Bowling and Barkerend
- Constituency
- Bradford East
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 September 2007 (new provision)
- URN
- 135367 · LAESTAB 3806906 · UKPRN 10021055
- Formerly
- Bradford Cathedral Community College
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Bradford council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
- House prices: HM Land Registry price paid data, December 2023 to December 2025, placed by postcode.
- Breakfast club: DfE list of schools on the free breakfast club programme.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.