Fulford School

Fulford School is performing exceptionally well, having been rated outstanding across all areas of the inspection. The school exhibits strong moral values and has developed an inclusive community where pupils are supported to excel academically and socially. A wide range of opportunities, focused on both academic and personal development, ensures that students are well-prepared for their future. This is the first inspection under the new framework since the school converted to an academy, and it continues the legacy of excellence established when it was previously inspected.

Strengths

• Outstanding academic success and support for all pupils.
• Strong moral values embedded in the school culture.
• Inclusive community that values diversity.
• High expectations for pupil behaviour and conduct.
• Effective pastoral systems supporting pupil well-being.
• Strong curriculum promoting reading and critical thinking.
• Excellent professional development for staff.
• Comprehensive support for pupils with SEND.

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 Fulford School attended 93.6% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 15.6% 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, 4.2% of pupils at Fulford 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 Fulford School had 19.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.2% 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, 13.0% of pupils at Fulford School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has resourced provision with 8 pupils.

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 Fulford School received £7,020 and spent £7,169 for each of its 1,766 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £592,000 (£335 per pupil).

Across all 17 schools of Yorkshire Learning Trust, income was £6,882 and spending £6,872 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 York · York local authority: places and applications

Fulford School is part of Yorkshire Learning Trust, which runs 17 schools. The nearest others:

• Bishopthorpe Infant School York
• Archbishop of York's CofE Junior School, Bishopthorpe York
• Dunnington Church of England Primary School York
• Escrick Church of England Primary School York
• Wheldrake with Thorganby Church of England Primary School York
• Appleton Roebuck Primary School York
• Riverside School, Tadcaster Tadcaster
• Kirk Fenton Church of England Primary School Tadcaster
• Tadcaster Grammar School Tadcaster
• Saxton Church of England Primary School Tadcaster

What is Fulford School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Fulford School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Fulford School last inspected by Ofsted?

Fulford School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Fulford School have?

Fulford School has 1,853 pupils on roll.

What age range does Fulford School cover?

Fulford School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Fulford School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 59.7, and 72% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Fulford School?

Fulford School is at Fulfordgate, Heslington Lane, Fulford, York, North Yorkshire, YO10 4FY.