Schools by area › North Yorkshire › King James's School
King James's School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Community school
King James Road, Knaresborough HG5 8EB · king-james.co.uk · 01423 866061
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.1
- average Attainment 8 score. North Yorkshire 46.5, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,554
- 91% of 1,705 places
- Local authority
- North Yorkshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 19.2%
- First language not English
- 5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 225 families put the school first and 253 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 253 | 225 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 258 | 245 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 261 | 256 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 256 | 244 | 1 | 99% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 260 | 272 | 1▲ | 93% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.1, and 41.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across North Yorkshire it was 46.5, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (35 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼41.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲68.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼11.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.88 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 46.6 | −4.2 |
| Further education | 40.5 | +5.3 |
| Other education | 0.8 | +0.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.6 | +1.1 |
| Employment | 2.3 | −1.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.8 | −0.9 |
| Activity not captured | 1.5 | −0.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 students | C+ (35) | Below average -0.13 | |
| 100 students | C+ (35) | Average -0.12 | |
| 23 students | Dist- (32.6) | Average +0.01 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 115 | C+ (33.3) | +0.08 |
| 2022/23 | 119 | C+ (33.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 134 | B (39.3) | — |
| 2018/19 | 124 | C+ (32.6) | -0.02 |
| 2017/18 | 108 | C (30.1) | -0.07 |
| 2016/17 | 132 | C (29.7) | +0.24 |
| 2015/16 | 146 | C+ (32.1) | +0.22 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 45.9 | −7.4 |
| Other education | 0.8 | −0.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1 | +2.6 |
| Employment | 36.9 | +4.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.7 | +4.1 |
| Activity not captured | 1.6 | −2.8 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 11 January 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for King James's School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 10 Jan 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Dec 2011
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Dec 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Nov 2006Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
82% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (402 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 82%
- Replies
- 402
- 26% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on the 36% who had a child bullied
based on 56 parents (14%) with SEND