John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy, Ross-on-Wye

In its own words: "John Kyrle High School is located in the town of Ross-on-Wye, which is situated in the County of Herefordshire in the West Midlands. Ross-on-Wye in the county of Herefordshire is a beautiful market town situated on the River Wye and close to the Forest of Dean. The Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean are popular tourist destinations."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a genuine privilege to write this message as Headteacher of a school that means so much to so many people. For generations, John Kyrle has been at the heart of our community; helping young people to grow, achieve and discover who they can become."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, tennis, cross-country, drama, choir, chess and Lego.

Coming up: an open evening on Monday 14 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.3 in Herefordshire, County of; and 47 across England.

44% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Herefordshire, County of; and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 47.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.2: 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 32.3, against 50 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.7 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 167 families put John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy as their first choice and 252 named it as one of their preferences, for 180 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy is one of 5 schools run by Heart of Mercia, an academy trust.

218 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).

Of the 230 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 102 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 30% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 36% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

5.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 208 pupils (16.3%) received SEN support and 29 (2.3%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy.

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

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 69 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Herefordshire, County of (4), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy issued 138 suspensions, 10.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy are Brampton Abbotts CofE Primary School (0.2 miles), Ashfield Park Primary School (1 mile), St Joseph's RC Primary School and Nursery (1.1 miles) and Bridstow CofE Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.