School Chooser

Skipton Girls' High School

Secondary · ages 11-18GirlsAcademy (grammar)862 pupilsSixth formSkiptonNorth Yorkshire
School Chooser Score
90
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 86 to 93
Out of 100. Better than 14% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, September 2022
Strong pass in English and maths90%England 46%
Attendance94.0%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families8%Far fewer than most schools
PlacesFull862 pupils, 744 places
Pupils per teacher18.2School workforce census

Skipton Girls' High School is a converter academy in Skipton for girls aged 11 to 18. It has 862 pupils, 118 more than it has places for. About 8 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 90 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 14% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Gargrave Road, Skipton, BD23 1QL01756 707600sghs.org.ukMs Martha Featherstone headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 21 September 2022, 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”
Outstanding
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

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

Average GCSE score69.7
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths90%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths99%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.45In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of 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: 67.967.920182019: 71.271.220192022: 70.470.420222023: 68.768.720232024: 66.966.920242025: 69.769.72025
Since 2018: +1.8Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018North YorkshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11115112139142115112
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 869.766.968.770.471.267.947.146.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.45+0.62+0.50+0.61+0.42
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths90%89%90%94%90%89%48%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths99%97%98%99%100%98%68%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score6.576.266.466.816.866.434.174.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry95%96%96%94%97%92%37%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged64.966.757.064.868.060.8
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged70.266.969.570.971.468.4
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers68.372.073.171.969.4

Subjects

Results came out for 21 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

Computer Science100%grades 9 to 5, England 56%
Food Preparation & Nutrition94%grades 9 to 5, England 52%
English Language96%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 79th of 3,210 schools
Business91%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 64th of 1,806 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 languages, computer science, music.

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

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics115 entries · 3rd of 41 in North Yorkshire
91%England 53%
English Literature115 entries · 2nd of 41 in North Yorkshire
91%England 58%
English Language115 entries · 1st of 41 in North Yorkshire
96%England 54%
Religious Studies113 entries · 2nd of 21 in North Yorkshire
98%England 60%
Physics101 entries · 8th of 31 in North Yorkshire
93%England 82%
Chemistry101 entries · 11th of 31 in North Yorkshire
90%England 81%
Biology101 entries · 7th of 32 in North Yorkshire
93%England 82%
Geography59 entries · 2nd of 41 in North Yorkshire
90%England 51%
Art and Design57 entries · 2nd of 33 in North Yorkshire
91%England 58%
History56 entries · 2nd of 40 in North Yorkshire
89%England 52%
Spanish56 entries · 1st of 17 in North Yorkshire
84%England 54%
Business55 entries · 1st of 22 in North Yorkshire
91%England 51%
French53 entries · 8th of 27 in North Yorkshire
74%England 60%
Media / Film / TV29 entries · 2nd of 8 in North Yorkshire
79%England 55%
100%England 56%
94%England 52%
88%England 56%
100%England 50%
21%England 36%
German13 entries
92%England 63%
Music10 entries
90%England 61%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics11555%91%99%53%141 of 3,211
English Literature11552%91%97%58%134 of 3,202
English Language11557%96%100%54%79 of 3,210
Religious Studies11387%98%99%60%41 of 1,825
Physics10156%93%99%82%913 of 2,546
Chemistry10142%90%98%81%1,086 of 2,537
Biology10151%93%98%82%911 of 2,570
Geography5968%90%97%51%146 of 3,116
Art and Design5765%91%98%58%169 of 2,818
History5677%89%93%52%137 of 3,126
Spanish5646%84%93%54%164 of 1,941
Business5549%91%95%51%64 of 1,806
French5347%74%89%60%591 of 1,974
Media / Film / TV2928%79%100%55%60 of 580
Computer Science1932%100%100%56%
Food Preparation & Nutrition1663%94%100%52%
Physical Education1625%88%88%56%
Design & Technology1493%100%100%50%
Combined Science140%21%79%36%
German1362%92%100%63%
Music1010%90%90%61%

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

120 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB-37.9 points per entry
A level progress-0.09Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better21%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished99%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students120131133117248246
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry37.8637.9939.3742.5440.8939.23
Average A level gradeB-B-BB+BB
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS37.3937.7839.2742.5141.0340.03
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects21%23%27%31%31%29%
A level progressA level value added-0.09+0.11+0.05+0.06
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed99%98%96%96%95%96%

A level subjects

18 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.

Strongest A levels

History93%A* to B, England 55% · 15 entries
Fine Art96%A* to B, England 65% · 25 entries
Business Studies77%A* to B, England 47% · 13 entries
Geography73%A* to B, England 51% · 11 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsPsychology47Chemistry42Biology42Mathematics30Fine Art25English Literature22English Language16Religious Studies16Spanish15History15Physics14Media / Film / TV Studies13Business Studies13Geography11Government and Politics10Computer Science7French5Mathematics (Further)5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Psychology47 entries · 17% A* or A · 98% passed
51%England 46%
Chemistry42 entries · 17% A* or A · 98% passed
57%England 53%
Biology42 entries · 36% A* or A · 98% passed
60%England 49%
Mathematics30 entries · 50% A* or A · 90% passed
63%England 60%
Fine Art25 entries · 72% A* or A · 100% passed
96%England 65%
English Literature22 entries · 32% A* or A · 100% passed
73%England 52%
English Language16 entries · 6% A* or A · 100% passed
38%England 44%
Religious Studies16 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
63%England 50%
Spanish15 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 59%
History15 entries · 67% A* or A · 100% passed
93%England 55%
Physics14 entries · 29% A* or A · 93% passed
43%England 51%
Media / Film / TV Studies13 entries · 46% A* or A · 100% passed
62%England 46%
Business Studies13 entries · 15% A* or A · 100% passed
77%England 47%
Geography11 entries · 55% A* or A · 100% passed
73%England 51%
Government and Politics10 entries · 40% A* or A · 80% passed
70%England 55%
Computer Science7 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 46%
French5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 60%
Mathematics (Further)5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 76%

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
64.970.2
Gap 5.3England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
91%89%
Gap 2 ptsEngland 22 pts
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

Grammar school. This is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test.

Full854 pupils for 847 places, 2024/25
101% full

The school is full, with 7 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

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 North 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 roll862Census January 2026
Places744116% full
Pupils from low-income families10%8% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English14%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support10%89 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan0%1 pupil with a plan
Average class size21.434 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils6%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)8%£57,200 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls0 / 862
White British pupils62%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (47), emotional and mental health (14), Autistic spectrum disorder (11), Hearing impairment (9), Vision impairment (4), Other difficulty or disability (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll862855884889877873
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals10%6%7%7%6%5%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language14%12%10%9%8%7%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support10%8%6%5%5%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans0%0%0%0%0%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.0% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance94.0%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school15.9%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.82024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.5%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.0%6.1%6.6%6.5%3.3%3.9%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence5.5%5.5%5.9%6.0%2.9%3.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.5%0.6%0.7%0.6%0.4%0.4%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence15.9%19.1%18.3%18.7%6.1%6.6%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.81.40.80.70.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 139 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training100%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 100%, compared with 100% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training100%100%98%100%
Education100%100%98%99%
Apprenticeship0%0%0%1%
Work0%0%0%0%
Not in education, work or training0%0%0%0%

After sixth form

Where the 129 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training93%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 71%, compared with 94% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training90%England 72%
Top-third universities46%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship4%England 6%
Higher technical course2%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training93%91%95%
Education76%72%78%
Apprenticeship4%3%6%2%
Work13%17%10%
Not in education, work or training5%5%6%

Staff and money

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

Teachers47.3full-time equivalent, 60 people
Pupils per teacher18.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants4.6full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£54,185
Teachers who left in the year18%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.92024/25

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.

Spend per pupil£6,959England £7,965. Total £6.0m
Income per pupil£7,375England £8,423. Total £6.3m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,071England £4,444
Money in reserve19%A healthy amount put by: £1.2m, £1,415 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£356kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,959spent 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 m4812 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate28 per 1,000 people70% lower than the England average
Nearest bus stop70 mGirls High School, 14 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
Ermysted's Grammar SchoolVoluntary (grammar)260 m836Good 202290Compare
The Skipton AcademyAcademy640 m736Good 202333Compare
South Craven SchoolAcademy4.7 miles1,936Good 202359Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Skipton Girls' High School 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.

Beats14%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 90 is 7 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 81 · middle 97 · highest 100100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 90 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 90% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 86 to 93. 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 above
+0.52
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 115 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 4.0 years old
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.23
DfE progress measure; 115 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.02
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.11
2024/25; 635 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.04
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 115 pupils
What pupils do next5%well above
+0.09
139 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 Skipton Girls' High School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Skipton Girls' High School scores 90 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 14% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 86 to 93, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Skipton Girls' High School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Skipton Girls' High School good at its last full inspection on 21 September 2022.

How good are Skipton Girls' High School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 90% 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 69.7, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Skipton Girls' High School have?

862 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 744 places, so it is 116% full. It is a girls' school.

Is Skipton Girls' High School oversubscribed?

Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 7 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.

Does Skipton Girls' High School have an entrance exam?

Yes. It is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test, usually sat in September of Year 6. Check the school's admissions page for the test dates and the pass mark.

What is attendance like at Skipton Girls' High School?

Pupils were in school 94.0% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 16% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Skipton Girls' High School?

The average class had 21.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 6% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Skipton Girls' High School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B-. 18 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
Gargrave Road, Skipton, BD23 1QL
Telephone
01756 707600
Website
www.sghs.org.uk
Headteacher
Ms Martha Featherstone
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Girls
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
Northern Star Academies Trust (15 schools)
Local authority
North Yorkshire
Ward
Skipton North & Embsay-with-Eastby
Constituency
Skipton and Ripon
Setting
Urban: Further from a major town or city
Opened
1 April 2011 (academy converter)
URN
136664 · LAESTAB 8154518 · UKPRN 10033380
Formerly
Skipton Girls' High School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from