Whitby School, Whitby

In its own words: "Our values embrace the high aspirations and opportunities we will create for our pupils and students at Whitby School as we encourage them to excel and develop both personally and academically."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Whitby School, we are proud to serve a community that is more than just a place - it is a shared spirit, a network of families, traditions, and aspirations. Whitby and its surrounding area truly is a community, and we are honoured to be at its heart."

In 2026, pupils at Whitby School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in North Yorkshire and 47 across England.

38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in North Yorkshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 39.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.1: 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 29, against 43.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 167 families put Whitby School as their first choice and 172 named it as one of their preferences, for 176 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Whitby School (as of April 2026): 15% would recommend the school, 15% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (18%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

Of the 105 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 67 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 28% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Whitby School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 8 places, 0 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Whitby Rail Station, about 650 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Community College (e-bound), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Whitby School 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 178 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Whitby School issued 393 suspensions, 37.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Whitby School are Stakesby Primary Academy (0.3 miles), Airy Hill Primary School (0.4 miles), West Cliff Primary School (0.5 miles) and Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.