Best Schools in York

How many schools are there in York?

York has 137 open schools: 103 state primary, 13 state secondary or all-through, 11 independent, 4 special and 6 others.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Which schools in York are rated Outstanding?

13 schools in York were rated Outstanding at their most recent graded Ofsted inspection: All Saints Catholic School York, Outwood Primary Academy Alne, Lord Deramore's Primary School, Woodthorpe Primary School, Ryedale School and 8 more. Counting Good as well, 95% of the 114 graded schools here are rated Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

All Saints Catholic School YorkOutwood Primary Academy AlneLord Deramore's Primary SchoolWoodthorpe Primary SchoolRyedale School

Source: Ofsted

Which secondary schools in York get the best GCSE results?

Of the 15 schools in York with 2026 GCSE results, the highest Attainment 8 scores - the average grade across a pupil's best eight GCSEs - were at Fulford School, with an Attainment 8 score of 59.7 and 72% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above; All Saints Catholic School York, with an Attainment 8 score of 55.1 and 55% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above; and Ryedale School, with an Attainment 8 score of 53.5 and 64% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above. Progress 8, the DfE's value-added measure, was not published for 2026.

Fulford SchoolAll Saints Catholic School YorkRyedale School

Source: DfE school performance data

Which primary schools in York have the best SATs results?

4 of the 92 primary schools in York with 2025 Key Stage 2 results had every pupil reach the expected standard in both reading and maths, among them Newbald Primary School, Roecliffe CofE Primary School and Sinnington Community Primary School. Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Newbald Primary SchoolRoecliffe CofE Primary SchoolSinnington Community Primary School

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in York?

No. None of the state secondary schools in York selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Do schools in York have catchment areas?

Most state schools in York have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, the council allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.

How do I apply for a school place in York?

Apply to your council - York, North Yorkshire or East Riding of Yorkshire, depending on your address - through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts. Independent schools run their own admissions, so apply to those directly.