School Chooser

Tapton School & Sixth Form

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,747 pupilsSixth formSheffield
School Chooser Score
90
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 86 to 93
Out of 100. Better than 82% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, November 2024
Strong pass in English and maths68%England 46%
Attendance94.0%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families19%A bit fewer than most schools
PlacesFull1,747 pupils, 1,568 places
Pupils per teacher17.2School workforce census

Tapton School & Sixth Form is a converter academy in Sheffield for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,747 pupils, 179 more than it has places for. About 19 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 90 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 82% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.

Darwin Lane, Sheffield, S10 5RG0114 267 1414taptonschool.co.ukMs Anna Siddell co-headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 November 2024, 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.

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

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

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

Average GCSE score58.0
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths68%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths84%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.54In each subject, pupils here finished most of 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: 57.657.620182019: 56.156.120192022: 60.660.620222023: 56.656.620232024: 58.458.420242025: 58.058.02025
Since 2018: +0.4Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018SheffieldEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11269286263262223224
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 858.058.456.660.656.157.645.246.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.54+0.71+0.60+0.46+0.64
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths68%71%67%74%66%67%44%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths84%84%80%86%76%83%64%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score5.315.395.275.585.105.274.014.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry49%60%68%61%63%56%40%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged41.546.443.449.043.239.8
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged61.760.459.462.959.460.4
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers25.428.536.423.627.1
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers74.673.576.869.770.4

Subjects

Results came out for 22 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

German98%grades 9 to 5, England 63% · 29th of 571 schools
Design & Technology83%grades 9 to 5, England 50% · 138th of 1,478 schools
Spanish86%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 129th of 1,941 schools
Computer Science79%grades 9 to 5, England 56% · 302nd of 1,861 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Combined Science (13% here, 36% across England), Chemistry (72% here, 81% across England).

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
Mathematics267 entries · 5th of 28 in Sheffield
71%England 53%
English Literature266 entries · 4th of 28 in Sheffield
73%England 58%
English Language265 entries · 3rd of 28 in Sheffield
75%England 54%
Religious Studies237 entries · 9th of 16 in Sheffield
59%England 60%
Biology208 entries · 15th of 26 in Sheffield
78%England 82%
Physics207 entries · 15th of 26 in Sheffield
77%England 82%
Chemistry207 entries · 18th of 26 in Sheffield
72%England 81%
Geography163 entries · 6th of 27 in Sheffield
65%England 51%
History91 entries · 4th of 26 in Sheffield
74%England 52%
Art and Design73 entries · 5th of 26 in Sheffield
71%England 58%
Business71 entries · 6th of 12 in Sheffield
66%England 51%
Combined Science56 entries · 25th of 28 in Sheffield
13%England 36%
Physical Education52 entries · 6th of 9 in Sheffield
60%England 56%
Spanish49 entries · 1st of 21 in Sheffield
86%England 54%
French45 entries · 3rd of 16 in Sheffield
82%England 60%
German42 entries · 1st of 6 in Sheffield
98%England 63%
Design & Technology41 entries · 1st of 12 in Sheffield
83%England 50%
Computer Science34 entries · 3rd of 14 in Sheffield
79%England 56%
Other Modern Languages29 entries · 1st of 2 in Sheffield
86%England 49%
Music21 entries · 1st of 3 in Sheffield
71%England 61%
Drama19 entries
63%England 60%
59%England 52%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics26748%71%86%53%406 of 3,211
English Literature26636%73%88%58%505 of 3,202
English Language26535%75%88%54%308 of 3,210
Religious Studies23738%59%71%60%1,049 of 1,825
Biology20840%78%90%82%1,732 of 2,570
Physics20740%77%88%82%1,729 of 2,546
Chemistry20736%72%86%81%1,888 of 2,537
Geography16334%65%76%51%621 of 3,116
History9160%74%81%52%393 of 3,126
Art and Design7334%71%84%58%806 of 2,818
Business7128%66%82%51%367 of 1,806
Combined Science560%13%27%36%2,913 of 3,084
Physical Education5223%60%69%56%700 of 1,559
Spanish4969%86%90%54%129 of 1,941
French4553%82%89%60%361 of 1,974
German4276%98%100%63%29 of 571
Design & Technology4146%83%93%50%138 of 1,478
Computer Science3450%79%82%56%302 of 1,861
Other Modern Languages2979%86%86%49%57 of 454
Music2157%71%95%61%185 of 395
Drama1937%63%79%60%
Food Preparation & Nutrition1741%59%88%52%

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

229 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB39.5 points per entry
A level progress+0.32Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better21%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished96%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students229241232238406428
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry39.5038.8937.8039.8635.0738.89
Average A level gradeBBB-BB-B
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS39.3438.3637.5339.4239.1941.17
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects21%28%27%28%25%33%
A level progressA level value added+0.32+0.23+0.18+0.21
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed96%94%93%94%91%97%

A level subjects

23 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

Business Studies86%A* to B, England 47% · 21 entries
Psychology75%A* to B, England 46% · 64 entries
Sociology77%A* to B, England 49% · 48 entries
English Language68%A* to B, England 44% · 19 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics93Chemistry68Psychology64Biology57Sociology48Physics39Economics37Government and Politics30Geography29History29English Literature24Business Studies21English Language19Mathematics (Further)18Art and Design12Computer Science12Film Studies11Design and Technology (Textiles Technology)11Drama and Theatre Studies7Religious Studies7Design and Technology (Product Design)6Physical Education / Sports Studies5Spanish5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics93 entries · 45% A* or A · 99% passed
67%England 60%
Chemistry68 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
53%England 53%
Psychology64 entries · 38% A* or A · 100% passed
75%England 46%
Biology57 entries · 39% A* or A · 98% passed
68%England 49%
Sociology48 entries · 42% A* or A · 100% passed
77%England 49%
Physics39 entries · 28% A* or A · 97% passed
69%England 51%
Economics37 entries · 19% A* or A · 100% passed
62%England 57%
Government and Politics30 entries · 27% A* or A · 97% passed
53%England 55%
Geography29 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
72%England 51%
History29 entries · 28% A* or A · 100% passed
55%England 55%
English Literature24 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
46%England 52%
Business Studies21 entries · 52% A* or A · 100% passed
86%England 47%
English Language19 entries · 26% A* or A · 100% passed
68%England 44%
Mathematics (Further)18 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
83%England 76%
Art and Design12 entries · 67% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 60%
Computer Science12 entries · 33% A* or A · 92% passed
67%England 46%
Film Studies11 entries · 18% A* or A · 100% passed
82%England 57%
Design and Technology (Textiles Technology)11 entries · 18% A* or A · 91% passed
46%England 43%
Drama and Theatre Studies7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 54%
Religious Studies7 entries · 14% A* or A · 86% passed
43%England 50%
Design and Technology (Product Design)6 entries · 83% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 38%
Physical Education / Sports Studies5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 41%
Spanish5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 59%

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. None of the gaps 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
41.561.7
Gap 20.2England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
35%75%
Gap 40 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
54.661.3
Gap 6.7England 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.

Nearly full1,757 pupils for 1,773 places, 2024/25
99% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have fallen by 3% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 1.0 miles away in 2026. 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. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary2681.0 milesLA

What a home within 1.0 miles of the school costs

Typical sale price within 1.0 miles of the school£340,000half sold for £250k to £460k
Homes sold964December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district+57%a typical home in the district sells for £217,000

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.

Pupils on roll1,747Census January 2026
Places1,568111% full
Pupils from low-income families18%19% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English25%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support11%194 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%54 pupils with a plan
Average class size23.564 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)19%£270,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls875 / 872
White British pupils51%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 7 pupils, for visual impairment.

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 Sheffield with visual impairment provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (60), Moderate learning difficulty (38), language and communications needs (36), Specific learning difficulty (31), Other difficulty or disability (26), emotional and mental health (26).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,7471,7631,8171,8181,8061,858
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals18%16%15%15%13%12%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language25%24%23%22%21%21%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support10%11%9%7%7%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%2%2%1%1%

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 school15.4%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils13.72024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission1.5%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.0%6.8%7.2%6.6%3.9%4.3%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.6%5.3%6.1%5.8%2.9%3.1%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.5%1.5%1.1%0.8%1.0%1.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence15.4%19.4%25.8%15.7%8.3%8.8%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate13.78.48.64.83.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions13220

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 263 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training95%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 85%, compared with 98% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training95%95%97%96%
Education93%93%94%93%
Apprenticeship2%1%2%2%
Work1%1%2%1%
Not in education, work or training3%3%1%2%

After sixth form

Where the 224 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 88%, compared with 89% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training86%England 72%
Top-third universities41%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship3%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 96% went on to degree-level study or training and 42% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training88%91%86%
Education70%74%65%
Apprenticeship3%4%2%1%
Work15%14%19%
Not in education, work or training7%5%8%

Staff and money

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

Teachers101.6full-time equivalent, 119 people
Pupils per teacher17.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers99%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants25.3full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£42,725
Teachers who left in the year10%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher8.92024/25

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£7,005England £7,965. Total £12m
Income per pupil£7,350England £8,423. Total £13m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,272England £4,444
Money in reserve18%A healthy amount put by: £2.3m, £1,314 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£608kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,005spent 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 m14612 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate42 per 1,000 people54% lower than the England average
Nearest bus stop180 mDarwin Lane/Tetney Road, 13 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
Notre Dame High SchoolAcademy370 m1,491Good 202280Compare
King Edward VII SchoolCouncil1.0 miles1,729Good 202361Compare
High Storrs SchoolAcademy1.2 miles1,706Good 202292Compare
Forge Valley School & Sixth FormAcademy1.6 miles1,494Good 202449Compare
Silverdale SchoolAcademy1.7 miles1,491Good 202283Compare
Mercia SchoolFree school1.9 miles1,070Outstanding 2023100Compare
UTC Sheffield City CentreUniversity technical college2.2 miles543No overall grade 202517Compare
Astrea Academy SheffieldFree school2.5 miles1,070Good 202259Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Tapton School & Sixth Form 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.

Beats82%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 90 is 10 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 26 · middle 80 · highest 99100

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
+0.24
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 269 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.34
Ofsted grade, 1.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.21
DfE progress measure; 269 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.02
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.09
2024/25; 1,370 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.02
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 269 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.04
263 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 Tapton School & Sixth Form a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Tapton School & Sixth Form scores 90 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 82% 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 Tapton School & Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Tapton School & Sixth Form not judged at its last full inspection on 26 November 2024.

How good are Tapton School & Sixth Form's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 68% 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 58.0, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Tapton School & Sixth Form have?

1,747 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,568 places, so it is 111% full.

Is Tapton School & Sixth Form 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 Tapton School & Sixth Form?

Pupils were in school 94.0% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 15% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Tapton School & Sixth Form?

The average class had 23.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 6% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Tapton School & Sixth Form have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for visual impairment. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

Does Tapton School & Sixth Form have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B. 23 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
Darwin Lane, Sheffield, S10 5RG
Telephone
0114 267 1414
Website
www.taptonschool.co.uk
Co-Headteacher
Ms Anna Siddell
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Inova Multi-Academy Trust Limited (10 schools)
Local authority
Sheffield
Ward
Crookes and Crosspool
Constituency
Sheffield Hallam
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 April 2012 (academy converter)
URN
138069 · LAESTAB 3734234 · UKPRN 10035024
Formerly
Tapton School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from