Appleton Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,207 pupils
82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 35.1
Academy converter
St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,800of 1,950 places
- Free school meals
- 28.2%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 289
- Ofsted
- Report card, 19 May 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Expected standardAchievement Expected standardAttendance and behaviour Expected standardPersonal development and wellbeing Expected standardInclusion Expected standardLeadership and governance Expected standardPost-16 provision Strong standardSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College (URN 140569, until 1 September 2022).
What the data says
Of the 284 pupils who finished Year 11 at St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy in 2023, 59% stayed on in St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy’s own sixth form (Bradford average 33%), 25% went to a further education college and 2% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 188 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 64% went to university (Bradford 40%, England 37%), and 17% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Religious Studies is unusually popular at GCSE: 93% of the year group took it, against 31% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were in line with the national picture: Attainment 8 of 44.5 against 46.1 across England and 40.8 in Bradford, with 45% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Bradford and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 284 | 6,849 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 92% | 88% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 89% | 84% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 59% | 33% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 6% | 11% | 13% |
| — further education college | 25% | 39% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 2% | 5% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 188 | 4,742 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 87% | 72% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 64% | 40% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 17% | 13% | 19% |
| Further education | 2% | 9% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 5% | 7% |
| Employment | 19% | 16% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 22% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 44.5 | 40.8 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 45% | 38% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 68% | 57% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 9% | 42% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.51 | 3.56 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 23% | 36% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 34.3 | 31.7 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 47.5 | 45.9 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 14% | 34% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 288 | 100% | 88% | 15% | 22% | 72% |
| English Language | 288 | 100% | 89% | 16% | 20% | 71% |
| English Literature | 281 | 97% | 86% | 16% | 21% | 74% |
| Religious Studies | 268 | 93% | 31% | 21% | 32% | 68% |
| Combined Science | 225 | 78% | 65% | 7% | 9% | 64% |
| Citizenship Studies | 76 | 26% | 3% | 18% | 19% | 84% |
| History | 70 | 24% | 41% | 33% | 26% | 79% |
| Physical Education | 66 | 23% | 11% | 5% | 24% | 68% |
| Physics | 49 | 17% | 23% | 41% | 46% | 98% |
| Biology | 49 | 17% | 23% | 43% | 45% | 98% |
| Chemistry | 49 | 17% | 23% | 51% | 47% | 100% |
| Design and Technology | 48 | 17% | 11% | 15% | 23% | 73% |
| Geography | 47 | 16% | 41% | 30% | 25% | 64% |
| Business Studies | 46 | 16% | 18% | 4% | 20% | 70% |
| Photography | 35 | 12% | 6% | 11% | 19% | 91% |
| Spanish | 31 | 11% | 19% | 26% | 27% | 77% |
| Fine Art | 28 | 10% | 9% | 32% | 28% | 93% |
| Drama | 25 | 9% | 7% | 24% | 27% | 72% |
| Dance | 16 | 6% | 1% | 13% | 27% | 75% |
| Computer Science | 14 | 5% | 13% | 0% | 30% | 79% |
| Media Studies | 13 | 4% | 4% | 15% | 20% | 77% |
| Polish | 11 | 4% | 1% | 91% | 84% | 100% |
| French | 6 | 2% | 18% | 33% | 29% | 100% |
| Music | 3 | 1% | 5% | — | 33% | — |
| Russian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 87% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Studies | 40 | 38% | — |
| Small Business Management | 37 | 36% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 33 | 32% | — |
| Tourism | 21 | 20% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 19 | 18% | — |
| Sports Studies | 15 | 14% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 12 | 12% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 338 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 104 | 1,976 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 33.93 | 33.79 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B- | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 12% | 17% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 27 | 26% | 23% |
| Biology | 26 | 25% | 20% |
| Sociology | 26 | 25% | 13% |
| Mathematics | 22 | 21% | 31% |
| Chemistry | 21 | 20% | 17% |
| English Literature | 17 | 16% | 11% |
| History | 16 | 15% | 13% |
| Politics | 16 | 15% | 6% |
| Law | 14 | 13% | 4% |
| Physics | 14 | 13% | 12% |
| Geography | 8 | 8% | 10% |
| Religious Studies | 6 | 6% | 4% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Media Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Product Design | — | — | 2% |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 40 | 38% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 18 | 17% | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 15 | 14% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 13% | — |
| Tourism | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 11% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 10 | 10% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 10 | 10% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 9 | 9% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 8 | 8% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 8 | 8% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Tourism | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Music performance: Group | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Bradford
Beckfoot Oakbank
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,394 pupils
82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 35.3
Beckfoot School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,592 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.0
Beckfoot Thornton
Academy sponsor led · 1,243 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 40.2
Beckfoot Upper Heaton
Academy sponsor led · 679 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.3
Belle Vue Girls' Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 910 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.2
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.