Honley High School, Holmfirth

In its own words: "Our history is a tapestry of tradition and transformation. Originally founded as a grammar school, the pursuit of academic excellence continues to underpin our ethos today and ensures that we remain a beacon of quality education in the heart of our community. At Honley, we believe in the holistic development of our students."

From the headteacher's welcome: "A warm welcome from Mrs Lord, Head of School to our new students joining us in September 2026 I'm Mrs MacLarty, KS2-3 Transition Lead at Honley - some of your children may have already met me, when I visited primary schools in September, or at our Open Evening."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include Duke of Edinburgh and cadets.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 5 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Honley High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Kirklees and 47 across England.

70% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in Kirklees and 47% in England.

That is up from 50.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.28: pupils made 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 39.4, against 59.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 238 families put Honley High School as their first choice and 671 named it as one of their preferences, for 243 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Honley High School are Newsome Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.9); Holmfirth High School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56.2); Moor End Academy (1.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 46.4); and King James's School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.3).

Honley High School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Honley High School is one of 9 schools run by Together Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 254 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

5.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%), Mixed (9%) and Asian (7%).

Honley High School has a resourced provision for autism: 20 places, 20 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Honley Rail Station, about 170 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High School Grounds (in), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 30 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153).

In 2024/25, Honley High School issued 294 suspensions, 22.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Honley High School are Honley CofE (VC) Junior, Infant and Nursery School (0.5 miles); Berry Brow Infant and Nursery Academy (1 mile); Brockholes Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School (1 mile); and Netherton Infant and Nursery School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.