The Mirfield Free Grammar

The Mirfield Free Grammar has made notable progress since its previous inspection, moving from requiring improvement to being judged as good in all areas. The leadership team, under the executive principal, has effectively stabilized the school and implemented a well-organized curriculum that enhances learning outcomes for students. Staff and students alike acknowledge the positive changes, with improved behavior, high expectations, and a supportive atmosphere that ensures students feel safe and respected. A strong focus on personal development, coupled with a commitment to superior pastoral care and a wealth of enrichment opportunities, reflects the school's dedication to fostering holistic growth in its students.

Strengths

• Strong improvement in the quality of education since the last inspection
• Well-organized curriculum that enhances pupil understanding
• High expectations from staff that improve behaviour and learning
• Effective pastoral support that ensures pupil safety and well-being
• Positive relationships between pupils and staff
• Strong progress in English and languages at key stage 4
• Effective support for pupils with SEND
• High-quality careers education and leadership opportunities for pupils

Areas for Improvement

• Gaps in mathematical knowledge for some pupils in Years 9 to 11
• Sixth-form study programmes not well matched for the least able students
• Inconsistent quality of teaching in some sixth-form subjects

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 The Mirfield Free Grammar attended 91.3% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 23.3% 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, 7.5% of pupils at The Mirfield Free Grammar were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). One pupil was 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 The Mirfield Free Grammar had 17.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.2% 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, 10.5% of pupils at The Mirfield Free Grammar were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.5% 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 2024–25 The Mirfield Free Grammar received £8,677 and spent £8,611 for each of its 1,324 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,319,000 (£996 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of Great Heights Academy Trust, income was £8,616 and spending £8,424 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Mirfield · Kirklees local authority: places and applications

The Mirfield Free Grammar is part of Great Heights Academy Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Carlinghow Academy Batley
• West Vale Academy Halifax
• The Greetland Academy Halifax
• Colne Valley High School Huddersfield
• Bowling Green Academy Halifax
• Nields Academy Huddersfield
• Raynville Academy Leeds
• Marsden Junior School Huddersfield

What is The Mirfield Free Grammar's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Mirfield Free Grammar is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was The Mirfield Free Grammar last inspected by Ofsted?

The Mirfield Free Grammar was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does The Mirfield Free Grammar have?

The Mirfield Free Grammar has 1,300 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Mirfield Free Grammar cover?

The Mirfield Free Grammar for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Mirfield Free Grammar's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 43.5, and 45% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Mirfield Free Grammar?

The Mirfield Free Grammar is at Kitson Hill Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, WF14 9EZ.