King James's School, Knaresborough

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

In 2026, pupils at King James's School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in North Yorkshire and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in North Yorkshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 46.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.15: 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 35.7, against 50.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 225 families put King James's School as their first choice and 447 named it as one of their preferences, for 253 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 King James's School are Harrogate High School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.5); St John Fisher Catholic Academy (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.6); St Aidans and St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form (2.9 miles); and St Aidan's Church of England High School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 59.4).

King James's School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Of the 262 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 41% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 122 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Knaresborough Rail Station, about 760 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Swimming Pool (opposite), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, King James's School issued 341 suspensions, 22.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to King James's School are Aspin Park Academy (0.3 miles); Knaresborough St John's Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles); St Mary's Primary School Knaresborough, A Voluntary Catholic Academy (0.7 miles); and Meadowside Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.