Kirkburton Middle School, Huddersfield

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Kirkburton Middle School on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders' work to improve attendance has been highly successful over several years."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils develop a strength of character, confidence and respect for others that is well embedded."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils develop increasing confidence and understanding throughout their time at school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "An ambitious and varied range of subjects is available at the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that all pupils get equal access to the many opportunities on offer at the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "School development priorities are very well considered."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching strategies are systematically and skilfully adapted, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), so that any barriers to achievement are swiftly and effectively addressed"; "Leaders should rigorously monitor the impact of their strategies to support pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils and ensure that they make a sustained difference to pupils' educational experience".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Everyone connected to Kirkburton Middle School (KMS) is very proud of our school. The three years between the ages of ten and thirteen are characterised by rapid physical, social and emotional change and are of great significance in the academic and social development of young people."

On phones, the school says: "The school accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to phones that are not handed in to Pupil Achievement Leaders or the school office."

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Kirkburton Middle School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Kirklees and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (74% in reading, 66% in maths).

For September 2024 entry, 7 families put Kirkburton Middle School as their first choice and 84 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2024 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Kirkburton Middle School are Shelley College, A Share Academy (2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 51.8); King James's School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.3); Scissett Middle School (3.3 miles, Good); and Honley High School (3.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.8).

Kirkburton Middle School is one of 6 schools run by The Mast Academy Trust, an academy trust.

112 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kirkburton Middle School (as of April 2026): 80% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 54% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (54%).

13.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (5%).

The nearest railway station is Stocksmoor Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Middle School, 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 21 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153).

In 2024/25, Kirkburton Middle School issued 35 suspensions, 7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Kirkburton Middle School are Kirkburton CofE (VA) First School (0.3 miles), Highburton CofE First Academy (0.5 miles), Shelley First School (1.2 miles) and Rowley Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.