Whitby School

Caedmon College Whitby is currently rated as requiring improvement across several key areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. While the school has made some progress, particularly in the ambitious curriculum being implemented in key stages, it is noted that the quality of education is inconsistent. Notably, sixth-form provision stands out as a strength, showing good outcomes and an effective curriculum designed to meet students' needs. However, concerns persist regarding students' behaviour outside the classroom and the need for further improvements in attendance and the teaching of fundamental British values.

Strengths

• Sixth-form provision is well-designed and effective.
• Pupils experience positive relationships with staff.
• Curriculum developments have increased knowledge access at key stage 3.

Areas for Improvement

• Quality of education is inconsistent across subjects.
• Pupils' behaviour outside of lessons is lacking.
• Attendance rates remain too high among certain groups.
• Curriculum for personal development is not consistently implemented.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Whitby School attended 86.9% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 37.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 13.5% of pupils at Whitby School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Whitby School had 17.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 14.6% of pupils at Whitby School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Whitby School received £8,867 and spent £8,699 for each of its 975 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £676,000 (£694 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Whitby · North Yorkshire local authority: places and applications

What is Whitby School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whitby School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in January 2024.

When was Whitby School last inspected by Ofsted?

Whitby School was last inspected in January 2024.

How many pupils does Whitby School have?

Whitby School has 975 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whitby School cover?

Whitby School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

What are Whitby School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 39.8, and 38% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Whitby School?

Whitby School is at Prospect Hill, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1LA.