Bradford Forster Academy, Bradford

In its own words: "At BFA we are a community that cares deeply about each and every child."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Bradford Forster Academy is an exciting, vibrant, student-centred place of learning, which is fully committed to providing the highest quality education for all of its students. I am very proud to lead this school and I am especially proud of the improvements that we have seen."

In 2026, pupils at Bradford Forster Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 42.6 in Bradford and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Bradford and 47% in England.

That is up from 32.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.54: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 30.3, against 43.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 113 families put Bradford Forster Academy as their first choice and 258 named it as one of their preferences, for 181 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Bradford Forster Academy are Bradford Academy (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 35.2); Bronte Girls' Academy (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 47.9); Laisterdyke Leadership Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.1); and Dixons City Academy (1.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.5).

Bradford Forster Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Bradford Forster Academy is one of 21 schools run by Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.6 in 2024/25.

90 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bradford Forster Academy (as of September 2025): 41% would recommend the school, 49% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (61%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).

Of the 187 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

47.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 28.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (53%), Black (11%) and Asian (9%).

In 2026, 204 pupils (22.9%) received SEN support and 47 (5.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Bradford Interchange Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fenby Avenue Junction, 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bradford Forster Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Bradford Forster Academy issued 1073 suspensions, 110.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Bradford Forster Academy are Lower Fields Primary Academy (0.1 miles); Knowleswood Primary School (0.4 miles); St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles); and Meadow Bank Community School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.