Fulford School, York

From the headteacher's welcome: "We proudly hold the status of an “Outstanding” school, and are widely acknowledged as one of the most successful and high-performing state schools in the North of England. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality education and upholding excellence in all aspects of school life."

In 2026, pupils at Fulford School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.5 in York and 47 across England.

72% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in York and 47% in England.

That is up from 55.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.54: pupils made well above 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 45.8, against 61 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 302 families put Fulford School as their first choice and 635 named it as one of their preferences, for 286 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 23 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Fulford School are Millthorpe School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.2); Archbishop Holgate's School, A Church of England Academy (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.7); All Saints Catholic School York (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.1); and York High School (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.8).

Fulford School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Fulford School is one of 17 schools run by Yorkshire Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 268 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 180 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 59% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 49% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

8.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 241 pupils (13%) received SEN support and 49 (2.6%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Fulford School has a resourced provision for autism: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Main Entrance, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fulford School, 30 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 71 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in York (175).

In 2024/25, Fulford School issued 144 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Fulford School are St Oswald's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (0.1 miles), St George's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy (1 mile), Knavesmire Primary School (1.1 miles) and St Lawrence's Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.