Spen Valley High School, Liversedge

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Spen Valley High School on 6 areas: 1 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are committed to ensuring that inclusion is at the heart of this school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not make the progress that they should across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' attendance is lower than it should be."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teaching across the school is inconsistent."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "The governing body is committed to the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "The school has a personal development programme that includes personal, social and health education lessons for pupils in Year 7 to Year 10, alongside daily coaching sessions and regular assemblies."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers give pupils opportunities to practise and review what they have learned so that they develop deeper knowledge and understanding across all subjects, including within the personal development programme"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils who are at the early stages of reading receive the support that they need to progress"; "Leaders should further develop their analysis and use of attendance information to remove barriers to pupil attendance"; "Governors should rigorously assure themselves of the quality of the school's work so that they provide effective support and challenge to leaders, leading to sustainable improvements".

In 2026, pupils at Spen Valley High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 36.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Kirklees and 47 across England.

28% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in Kirklees and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 35.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.77: pupils made well 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 23.1, against 41.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.3 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 167 families put Spen Valley High School as their first choice and 527 named it as one of their preferences, for 179 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Spen Valley High School are Heckmondwike Grammar School (1.2 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 78.9); The Mirfield Free Grammar (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.5); Castle Hall Academy (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.1); and Whitcliffe Mount, A Share Academy (1.9 miles, Attainment 8 45.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Spen Valley High School.

Spen Valley High School is one of 2 schools run by The Spenborough Co-operative Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 188 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

35.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%), Asian (9%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 217 pupils (22.7%) received SEN support and 33 (3.4%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Mirfield Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Headlands (at), 150 metres away.

In 2024/25, Spen Valley High School issued 178 suspensions, 18.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Spen Valley High School are Headlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School (0.3 miles); Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School (0.6 miles); Roberttown CofE Primary School (0.7 miles); and Millbridge, A Share Primary Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.