Holmfirth High School, Holmfirth

Outstanding
Secondary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.7km)Possible (~3.9km)Unlikely (~5.1km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Ben Stitchman
Pupils:1,328 / 1,330 capacity
LA:Kirklees
Phone:01484691460
Address:Heys Road, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, HD9 7SE
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Outstanding

Overall

URN:107769
UKPRN:10015927
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Colne Valley
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Holmfirth High School excels at making learning engaging and challenging for all pupils, including those with additional needs. Teachers provide excellent feedback and support, which helps pupils stay on track and feel proud of their work. The school goes beyond lessons to offer enrichment activities, house competitions, trips and strong pastoral support for pupil wellbeing.

Key Strengths

  • Highly ambitious curriculum carefully planned to help all pupils build knowledge and remember important concepts
  • Teachers check understanding throughout lessons and provide extra help so pupils keep up with their learning
  • Pupils behave very well and feel safe and well looked after
  • High-quality modern foreign languages programme using phonics and sentence builders to help pupils think in the language
  • Wide range of clubs, activities, trips and support including mental health and well-being services

Areas for Improvement

  • Views of a small minority of pupils not consistently gathered, meaning some pupils feel disrespected peers are not always held to the same standards
  • Behaviour management policy needs to be applied more consistently by all staff
  • Fewer pupils choosing to study foreign languages at key stage 4 than previously, reducing access to the English Baccalaureate pathway

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective with robust recruitment and training procedures, swift action by staff, anxiety workshops, a school counsellor, and clear online safety education.

Extracurricular Activities

House competitions, residential visits, community fundraising and charity events, anxiety workshops

Holmfirth High School is a good school with evidence of improved performance that could lead to an outstanding rating. Teachers plan highly engaging lessons and pupils have exceptional attitudes to learning.

At a Glance

17.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

26.6

Avg class size

50

Total classes

7 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Holmfirth High School Turning circle
99m · 2 min walk
Heys Lane
210m · 3 min walk
Sycamore Lane
211m · 3 min walk
Longlands Bank
215m · 3 min walk
Heys Road (at)
216m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

100%

Over capacity

1,328 pupils

1,330 capacity

2 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Holmfirth

High pressure
New homes approved:389
Projected new pupils:70

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Holmfirth

Admissions Demand - Kirklees

Low demand0.98x oversubscription

Places available

4,970

Applications

4,871

Got 1st preference

89.9%

Got preferred school

97.8%

Secondary admissions across Kirklees (2025/26)

Inspection History(108)

Date not published by Ofsted
Outstanding
Date not published by Ofsted
Outstanding
Date not published by Ofsted
Outstanding

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.55603%

Overall absence

15.44118%

Persistent absence

1,360

Enrolments

Authorised4.86135%
Unauthorised1.69468%
Persistent (10%+)15.44118%
Severe (50%+)3.60294%

Absence trend

4.02393%
18/19
3.74654%
20/21
8.32865%
21/22
7.04534%
22/23
7.32612%
23/24
6.55603%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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