Joseph Rowntree School, York

In its own words: "We are a successful 11-18 comprehensive school of over 1300 students, with over 200 students in the sixth form. Our modern buildings and state of the art facilities provide an excellent learning environment and our talented and dedicated team of staff are wholly committed to the school and its students."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are proud to have a vibrant Sixth Form with a strong identity and clear vision. Our aim is to inspire students to achieve to the best of their ability with a lot of fun as a Sixth Form along the way. Our students enjoy both academic success and personal achievement."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Joseph Rowntree School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.5 in York and 47 across England.

45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in York and 47% in England.

That is down from 48.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.07: pupils made about 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 33, against 49.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.1 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, 154 families put Joseph Rowntree School as their first choice and 374 named it as one of their preferences, for 185 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Joseph Rowntree School are Huntington School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 49.9); Vale of York Academy (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.7); Manor Church of England Academy (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.4); and All Saints Catholic School York (3.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.1).

Joseph Rowntree School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Of the 229 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 85 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 47% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 36% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

7.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 134 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 66 (5.3%) 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 autism.

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

The nearest railway station is Rear Entrance, about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Joseph Rowntree School Grounds, 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Joseph Rowntree School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 53 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in York (175).

In 2024/25, Joseph Rowntree School issued 380 suspensions, 29.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Joseph Rowntree School are New Earswick Primary School (0.4 miles), Huntington Primary Academy (0.6 miles), Headlands Primary School (0.9 miles) and Yearsley Grove Primary School (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.