Hornsea School and Language College, Hornsea

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Hornsea School and Language College on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school has worked with considerable determination to improve attendance."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school promotes an inclusive culture and welcomes many pupils, who face difficult circumstances."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are deeply committed to the school and its community, and this is reflected in the inclusive culture they have built."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a broad and well‑planned personal development programme that supports pupils' wider growth effectively."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Sixth-form students benefit from an extensive and well‑structured study programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement is mixed across the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teachers do not always check pupils' understanding well enough in several lessons and subjects."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen the consistency and precision of assessment by supporting teachers in using information effectively to adapt learning and ensure all pupils build securely on what they already know"; "Leaders should improve outcomes at the end of key stage 4 for disadvantaged pupils and those with low prior attainment, ensuring that curriculum improvement work translates into sustained, measurable impact for these groups"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum and teaching helps pupils to develop a secure, detailed knowledge of fundamental British values and aspects of life in modern Britain"; "Leaders should continue to refine their quality assurance processes so that variability in provision is identified and addressed swiftly, securing consistently high standards across all areas of provision at the school".

In its own words: "Everything we do is geared towards ensuring that our fantastic students become well rounded and confident young adults. The exceptional range of extra-curricular opportunities, alongside strong relationships and highest possible standards of behaviour and outcomes go some way to explaining why we are a “School of Choice”."

In 2026, pupils at Hornsea School and Language College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.1 in East Riding of Yorkshire and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in East Riding of Yorkshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.34: pupils made 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 32.4, against 46.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, French and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 179 families put Hornsea School and Language College as their first choice and 215 named it as one of their preferences, for 184 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

163 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hornsea School and Language College (as of April 2026): 82% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (64%).

Of the 207 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 31% to a further education college, 9% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 64 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 45% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 70 pupils (5.6%) received SEN support and 102 (8.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Hornsea School and Language College has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 20 pupils on roll.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Hornsea School and Language College.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hornsea School, 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 51 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Riding of Yorkshire (31), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hornsea School and Language College issued 78 suspensions, 6.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Hornsea School and Language College are Hornsea Community Primary School (0.3 miles) and Hornsea Burton Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.