School Chooser

Bridlington School

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedVoluntary881 pupilsSixth formBridlingtonEast Riding of Yorkshire
School Chooser Score
4
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 3 to 7
Out of 100. Better than 26% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, April 2023
Strong pass in English and maths15%England 46%
Attendance87.5%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families53%Far more than most schools
Places368 spare881 pupils, 1,249 places
Pupils per teacher13.7School workforce census

Bridlington School is a voluntary controlled school in Bridlington for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 881 pupils and room for 1,249. About 53 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 26% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Bessingby Road, Bridlington, YO16 4QU01262 672593bridlingtonschool.co.ukMrs Kate Parker-Randall headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 19 April 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

158 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score30.2
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths15%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths28%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.96In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 45.745.720182019: 42.942.920192022: 38.438.420222023: 38.438.420232024: 37.637.620242025: 30.230.22025
Since 2018: -15.5Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018East Riding of YorkshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11158166180177155130
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 830.237.638.438.442.945.744.946.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.96-0.71-0.79+0.00+0.12
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths15%28%21%37%35%42%42%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths28%45%48%58%57%67%63%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score2.583.122.933.513.353.573.974.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry31%19%7%14%8%0%37%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged24.731.733.930.136.141.1
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged36.441.742.144.648.048.9
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers22.324.725.325.926.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers54.151.658.958.463.0

Subjects

Results came out for 14 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.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Spanish (15% here, 54% across England), Geography (14% here, 51% across England), Mathematics (19% here, 53% across England), Food Preparation & Nutrition (19% here, 52% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics157 entries · 18th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
19%England 53%
English Language156 entries · 18th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
26%England 54%
English Literature151 entries · 18th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
27%England 58%
Combined Science128 entries · 18th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
11%England 36%
Art and Design102 entries · 14th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
48%England 58%
Geography84 entries · 18th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
14%England 51%
History61 entries · 17th of 18 in East Riding of Yorkshire
30%England 52%
Spanish26 entries · 9th of 9 in East Riding of Yorkshire
15%England 54%
Food Preparation & Nutrition26 entries · 8th of 9 in East Riding of Yorkshire
19%England 52%
French24 entries · 12th of 13 in East Riding of Yorkshire
29%England 60%
Physics20 entries · 15th of 16 in East Riding of Yorkshire
65%England 82%
Chemistry20 entries · 16th of 16 in East Riding of Yorkshire
50%England 81%
Biology20 entries · 16th of 16 in East Riding of Yorkshire
50%England 82%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics1576%19%31%53%3,177 of 3,211
English Language1566%26%40%54%3,131 of 3,210
English Literature1516%27%38%58%3,121 of 3,202
Combined Science1280%11%16%36%2,960 of 3,084
Art and Design10210%48%62%58%1,925 of 2,818
Geography844%14%27%51%3,060 of 3,116
History6116%30%39%52%2,797 of 3,126
Spanish264%15%15%54%1,898 of 1,941
Food Preparation & Nutrition264%19%35%52%1,024 of 1,098
French2413%29%42%60%1,819 of 1,974
Physics2020%65%70%82%2,110 of 2,546
Chemistry2010%50%70%81%2,340 of 2,537
Biology2010%50%65%82%2,395 of 2,570
Religious Studies80%13%13%60%

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.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

35 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC-26.1 points per entry
A level progress-0.32Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better0%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished100%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students355045515981
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry26.1123.6429.4931.6327.6536.07
Average A level gradeC-D+CCC-B-
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS26.1120.3725.7632.0417.4120.42
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects0%0%0%11%4%0%
A level progressA level value added-0.32-0.77-0.31-0.21
Applied general courses: points per entry29.0730.3636.0839.34
T levels: points per entry31.82
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed100%91%71%86%96%91%

A level subjects

5 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsBiology13Psychology7Physics7Geography7Fine Art5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Biology13 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
31%England 49%
Psychology7 entries · 43% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 46%
Physics7 entries · 0% A* or A · 86% passed
0%England 51%
Geography7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
43%England 51%
Fine Art5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 65%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

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. Every gap at this school is 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

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
24.736.4
Gap 11.7England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
7%24%
Gap 17 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
30.429.8
Gap 0.6England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

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.

Plenty of spare places940 pupils for 1,275 places, 2024/25
74% full

335 places were empty (26% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 7% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to East Riding of Yorkshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

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.

Pupils on roll881Census January 2026
Places1,24971% full
Pupils from low-income families52%53% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English4%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support21%186 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan6%55 pupils with a plan
Average class size20.442 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils2%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)51%£479,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls476 / 405
White British pupils84%

Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 14 pupils, for 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 East Riding of Yorkshire with social, emotional and mental health provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (72), Moderate learning difficulty (70), Autistic spectrum disorder (34), Specific learning difficulty (33), language and communications needs (20), Physical disability (7).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll8819529691,0091,0261,071
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals52%51%48%45%41%39%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language4%4%3%3%2%2%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support16%16%16%12%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans7%6%6%5%4%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 87.5% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance87.5%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school39.7%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils47.22024/25, 16 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission6.7%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence12.5%12.5%12.6%12.8%8.3%7.0%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence5.8%5.2%6.3%9.0%6.6%4.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence6.7%7.4%6.2%3.8%1.7%2.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence39.7%39.3%40.8%38.8%25.8%23.4%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate47.220.929.327.619.1
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions1612962

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 180 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training88%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 84%, compared with 91% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training88%89%85%92%
Education82%82%79%87%
Apprenticeship3%3%3%2%
Work3%4%3%3%
Not in education, work or training11%9%10%7%

After sixth form

Where the 40 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training75%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 71%, compared with 77% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training67%England 72%
Top-third universities18%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 42% went on to degree-level study or training.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training75%85%77%
Education53%63%53%
Apprenticeship5%2%5%0%
Work18%21%19%
Not in education, work or training20%10%14%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers64.2full-time equivalent, 67 people
Pupils per teacher13.7Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers96%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants24.7full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£54,660
Teachers who left in the year8%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher5.92024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£9,740England £8,524. Total £9.3m
Income per pupil£9,792England £8,454. Total £9.3m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,785England £4,610
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £816k, £857 per pupil. England 5%
Money in against money out+£50kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£9,740spent per pupil

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

Crimes within 500 m34612 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate124 per 1,000 people36% higher than the England average
Typical house price£227,500East Riding of Yorkshire
Nearest bus stop200 mBridlington Bessingby Rd, 8 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Headlands SchoolCouncil1.5 miles1,057Report card 202616Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Bridlington School with the 47 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 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats26%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 5 is 10 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 15 · highest 82100

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: 3 to 7. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%well below
-0.27
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 158 pupils
Ofsted inspection19% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 3.4 years old
Progress pupils make20%well below
-0.37
DfE progress measure; 158 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.16
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.16
2024/25; 957 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.23
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 158 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.04
180 pupils
What parents say0%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 Bridlington School a good school?

The figures are weak. Bridlington School scores 5 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 26% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 3 to 7, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Bridlington School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Bridlington School good at its last full inspection on 19 April 2023.

How good are Bridlington School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 15% 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 30.2, 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 many pupils does Bridlington School have?

881 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,249 places, so it is 71% full.

Is Bridlington School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 335 places were empty in 2024/25 (26% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Bridlington School?

Pupils were in school 87.5% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 40% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Bridlington School?

The average class had 20.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 2% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Bridlington School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has sen unit for 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 Bridlington School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C-. 5 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Bessingby Road, Bridlington, YO16 4QU
Telephone
01262 672593
Website
www.bridlingtonschool.co.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Kate Parker-Randall
Type of school
Voluntary controlled school (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Local authority
East Riding of Yorkshire
Ward
Bridlington South
Constituency
Bridlington and The Wolds
Setting
Urban: Further from a major town or city
URN
118111 · LAESTAB 8114500 · UKPRN 10000879

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from