Schools by area › Bradford › Appleton Academy
Appleton Academy
All-through · Mixed · Ages 3–16 · Sponsored academy
Woodside Road, Bradford BD12 8AL · appletonacademy.co.uk · 01274 600550
On the mapSearch near BD12 8AL
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 35.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Bradford 40.8, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 2.08 mi
- 3.35 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Bradford Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,207
- 88% of 1,378 places
- Local authority
- Bradford
- Sixth form
- No
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 50.8%
- First language not English
- 10.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 2.08 mi (3.35 km) from the school. Source: Bradford Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 164 families put the school first and 163 places were offered; 90% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 163 | 164 | 1▲ | 90% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 172 | 159 | 0.9 | 96% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 173 | 166 | 1 | 96% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 198 | 141 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 187 | 147 | 0.8 | 99% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 2.08 mi3.35 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 35.1, and 27% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bradford it was 40.8, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 12% the higher standard. Across Bradford it was 60%, and across England 62%.
In 2017/18 the average A level result was grade D (19.1 points per entry).
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ●63% | 62% | ||
| ▲12% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●107 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 135865)
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼35.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼27.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼42.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼15.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼2.84 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 135865)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 6 | −0.7 |
| Sixth form college | 11.9 | −5.9 |
| Further education | 56.5 | +11.1 |
| Other education | 0.6 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 6 | −2.6 |
| Employment | 1.2 | −5.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.1 | +0.3 |
| Activity not captured | 7.7 | +3.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2017/18 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 students | D (19.1) | Below average -0.55 | |
| 12 students | D (19.1) | Below average -0.55 | |
| Applied general17 students | Merit+ (28.6) | Above average +0.40 | |
| Tech level11 students | Merit+ (29) | — |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 46 | D (21.5) | -0.43 |
| 2015/16 | 30 | D (19.7) | +0.05 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2017/18 | Since 2016/17 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 46 | −7 |
| Further education | 4 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 13 | +1 |
| Employment | 17 | −1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 17 | +9 |
| Activity not captured | 4 | −6 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Appleton Academy on 16 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 16 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 135865), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2016Requires improvement
Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 135865)
What parents said
58% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (12 replies, to 2 January 2023).
- Recommend
- 58%
- Replies
- 12
- 1% · 2 Jan 2023
based on the 83% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied