Archbishop Holgate's School Review 2026: Foundations of Excellence Since 1546

In 1546, Robert Holgate, Archbishop of York during the reign of Henry VIII, founded a school in the shadow of York Minster that would become one of England's most distinguished Church of England secondaries. For nearly 480 years, that educational legacy has endured, moving from its original site in Ogleforth to its current purpose-built campus on Hull Road, where 1,800 students now flourish. The school earned its Outstanding rating from Ofsted in October 2021, reflecting a comprehensive transformation from an all-boys grammar school to a fully co-educational institution serving students aged 11 to 18. With a 2025 Attainment 8 score of 56.5, Archbishop Holgate's positions itself firmly above national benchmarks. The 2025 A-level results reveal even sharper excellence: 41% of entries achieved A*-A (compared to the England average of 28%), and 78% achieved A*-B (against 55% in England). The school ranks 334th for A-level performance (top 13% in England, FindMySchool data), and 1,416th for GCSE (31st percentile). Its Christian values of justice, compassion, forgiveness and trust permeate daily life, making it distinct among York's secondary options.

Archbishop Holgate's School, A Church of England Academy in Badger Hill, York has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. The school's architecture tells its transformation story: Victorian sensibilities blend with modern infrastructure. The £4.3 million LearningCentre@AHS, completed in 2009, houses the sixth form and reflects institutional investment in post-16 excellence. A newer two-storey English block, finished in 2014, incorporates dedicated drama and dance studios, signalling the school's commitment to creative arts alongside traditional academics.

The school's Christian character is visible but not overwhelming. A chapel provides space for reflection; York Minster's Christmas Carol Service draws the entire school community each December in a tradition that bridges school and cathedral life. Staff communicate weekly newsletters to parents, creating transparency about curriculum progress and celebrating achievements.

Mrs Lucie Pond has led the school since 2024, bringing vision continuity after Andrew Daly's tenure (which began at St Wilfrid's Catholic School in Wakefield). The leadership team emphasises pastoral personalisation: every student is assigned a form tutor and year team consisting of a head of year and two assistant heads, ensuring individual attention within a large institution.

The four core values shine through observable practice. Compassion appears in the school's approach to disadvantaged students: the York Local Authority recognised "the improvement over time of outcomes for disadvantaged pupils," crediting leadership for creating "opportunities for all children to thrive and achieve." The Ofsted inspection found behaviour exemplary and safeguarding procedures thorough. Restorative justice approaches the discipline system, focusing on helping students understand consequences rather than purely punitive responses.

GCSE Results and Context

The 2024 GCSE cohort achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.1, above the England average of 45.9. Proportionally, 26% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate (EBACC), slightly above the England proportion of around 25%. The Progress 8 figure of +0.24 indicates students make slightly above-average progress compared to peers with similar starting points.

Archbishop Holgate's ranks 1,416th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the typical performance band, in line with the middle 35% of schools. Among York's secondary schools, it ranks 13th locally. The curriculum design prioritises breadth: students choose from traditional subjects across sciences, humanities, languages and the arts. Option choices in Year 9 allow customisation. By Year 11, nearly 20% of curriculum time focuses on Combined Science: Trilogy, which leads to two GCSE grades.

A-Level Results and Sixth Form Excellence

The 2025 A-level performance was substantially stronger. Of entries, 41% achieved A*-A (national A-level average: 28%), and 78% achieved A*-B (England average: 55%). This represents performance in the top tier in England. The school ranks 334th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool data), placing it in the national strong band (top 13% of schools ). Progress across the ability spectrum appears consistent: the school reports "over the last five years, our average Progress 8 score has been above +0.5," indicating sustained above-average progress from GCSE to A-level.

Twenty-six A-level subjects are available, including classical languages, Russian, History of Art and extended offerings in sciences. A-level tuition takes place within the specialist LearningCentre@AHS, a dedicated facility signalling institutional priority for post-16 scholarship.

The 2021 Ofsted inspection found teachers possessed "robust subject knowledge" and employed "engaging teaching strategies as a result of high-quality training." Subject leaders have implemented "meticulous planning across all subjects and year groups, ensuring every topic is sequentially laid out with essential knowledge and skills defined clearly."

The curriculum philosophy centres on knowledge retention. Literacy tests, written end-of-unit assessments and project work combine to provide rounded evaluation. The school hosts lunchtime support sessions and after-school homework clubs, particularly in the IT Hub and designated support rooms. A "Most Able and Most Willing" framework identifies students for enrichment: the Most Willing focus celebrates hard work and aspiration beyond raw academic indicators, recognising that motivation and resilience matter as much as innate ability.

Design and Technology benefits from "first-class facilities" including specialist workshops, rapid prototyping access and laser cutting capabilities. Computing progresses from Scratch-based programming in Year 7 to Python in Year 9, with projects on website design and cybersecurity. Science encourages practical investigation; students develop laboratory skills alongside theoretical understanding across Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Careers education runs continuously from age 11 onwards, with STEM employer encounters, enterprise schemes and mentoring embedded throughout.

In 2024, 52% of the sixth form cohort (165 leavers) progressed to university, with 4% entering further education and 8% beginning apprenticeships. Employment claimed 24% directly.

The school applies a rigorous narrative around university destinations. Within the measured cohort, one student secured a place at Cambridge (from 7 applications, a 14% offer rate). 1 acceptance resulted from 14 combined Oxbridge applications (combined 7% offer rate). These figures represent modest Oxbridge representation, typical of comprehensive schools. The school states emphasis on "considerable strength in careers information and guidance," with dedicated careers advisors supporting university applications. The sixth form curriculum aligns with competitive university entrance, offering breadth in traditional subjects alongside vocational qualifications through partnership with York College.

Music: Chapel Choir and Instrumental Tuition

Music occupies a significant place in the AHS Journey. Specialist instrumental tuition occurs off-site, with dedicated peripatetic staff teaching strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. The Chapel Choir performs at formal school occasions and external services; annually, the school's Christmas Service at York Minster represents a unique partnership between secondary education and cathedral life. Musical productions feature prominently; recent productions included a full-scale staging of Fame, rehearsed under professional direction with set, lighting and orchestra support. Student musicians participate in ensembles ranging from orchestras to smaller chamber groups, with performance opportunities at school assemblies, concert evenings and community events.

Drama: Professional Productions and Creative Studios

Drama extends beyond the classroom through the school's dedicated drama studio housed within the English block. The school produces annual whole-school productions: recent years have seen Fame, with principal dancers and a full cast rehearsing intensively. These productions employ professional choreography, lighting design and stage management, giving students experience of theatre-standard production values. The drama studio accommodates 200 seats and allows students to experience both performance and technical theatre roles.

Sports: Facilities and Competitive Pathways

Archbishop Holgate's operates extensive sporting facilities underpinning both recreational and elite participation. The school boasts a 25m x 12.5m heated indoor swimming pool, a large sports hall, gymnasium, fitness suite, two full-size football pitches, one full-size rugby pitch and extensive outdoor field space. Friday Night Lights-style rugby fixtures occur regularly; rowing benefits from the boathouse on the River Ouse, enabling water-based training and competition. Sports teams compete in football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and athletics across year groups. The school's sporting achievements receive regular recognition; the infrastructure supports both casual participation and serious competition pathways.

STEM: Science Clubs and Technology Projects

Science Club provides enrichment beyond the core curriculum, with student-led investigations and competitions. Design and Technology extends into enterprise schemes and local, regional and national competitions. Computing includes structured programming projects and web design challenges. The IT Hub offers dedicated facilities for advanced coursework and support sessions, reflecting investment in technology-enabled learning.

Enrichment and Leadership Development

The school hosts a Young Leaders Award scheme recognising student contribution to community life. RE Ambassadors provide peer education on religious and ethical topics. A Global Links programme fosters international understanding through partnerships (notably with South Africa). Whole-school celebrations punctuate the calendar: end-of-term assemblies, winter assemblies with musical performances, and awards ceremonies celebrate achievement across academic, sporting, creative and character dimensions. The school newsletter, sent weekly to parents, documents these activities in real time.

Archbishop Holgate's serves as the lead school for Pathfinder Teaching School Hub, covering the Ryedale, Scarborough and York regions. This designation positions the school as a centre of excellence for teacher training and leadership development, suggesting institutional confidence in pedagogical quality. The school accommodates trainee teachers and hosts professional development for educators across the wider network.

This is a Church of England school operated by Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, itself comprising four schools united by Church values. Admissions prioritise looked-after children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school, followed by faith-based criteria. Families meeting Church of England criteria (demonstrating regular worship within a specified timeframe) receive priority; families without faith connection enter a standard preference ballot. The Published Admissions Number is 270 for Year 7 entry. The school regularly operates at capacity, reflecting strong local demand.

Secondary entry remains coordinated through the Local Authority (City of York Council). For sixth form entry at 16, minimum GCSE requirements and subject-specific criteria apply; entry is not automatic and depends on achieving threshold grades.

Beyond academic spaces, the school provides:

• LearningCentre@AHS: Two-storey facility with parking and bike storage, opened 2009, housing sixth form facilities
• Modern Mathematics Block: Purpose-built facility supporting numeracy across curriculum
• Drama Studio: Integrated within the English block, completed 2014, with technical lighting and staging
• Specialist Workshops: Design and Technology includes CAD facilities and rapid prototyping equipment
• IT Hub: Dedicated computing spaces and support rooms
• Chapel: Space for collective worship and reflection
• Boathouse: River Ouse facility supporting rowing and water sports

The campus occupies an extensive site on Hull Road in Badger Hill. The school expanded significantly post-2011 (academy conversion) to accommodate students from the closure of Burnholme Community College and new local housing estates.

The 2021 Ofsted inspection found pastoral care "excellent." The form tutor system ensures every student is known individually; year teams monitor attendance, behaviour and academic progress. The school employs a dedicated school nurse providing health support. Safeguarding procedures are robust; the inspection found leaders "persistently seek to ensure pupils' safety through education about local risks complemented by timely identification and intervention strategies."

Students with special educational needs and disabilities receive "exceptionally strong" support, per external assessment. The school holds the Inclusion Quality Mark. Approximately 45 pupils sit on the SEN register; the SENDCo (Miss M Holmes) coordinates support. Counselling and peer support systems operate; staff report high awareness of mental health and wellbeing.

The school's restorative justice approach to behaviour emphasises dialogue and understanding over exclusion. Bullying and anti-discrimination work is co-ordinated at whole-school level. Form tutors and year teams maintain daily contact with families regarding pastoral matters.

School hours run 8:50am to 3:20pm (main school). The school operates a standard calendar with breaks aligning to local authority schedules. Students wear uniform (blazer, tie, specific colours). Transport: York benefits from regional bus networks; the school is accessible via public transport. The nearest train station is York (approximately 3 miles); bus stops serve the Hull Road corridor. School policies restrict transport beyond walking distance; families relying on cars should verify parking availability during peak hours.

Uniform and equipment costs are typical for secondary schools; the school provides guidance on suppliers. Lunch is provided on-site through a catering contractor; students may bring packed lunches. Extra-curricular activities are free to join unless involving external coaches or specialist tuition (e.g., instrumental music lessons).

Comprehensive intake with some stratification. Despite being non-selective, the school draws from a large catchment. The curriculum flexibility (option choices) and diverse pathways (academic A-levels, vocational BTEC) serve different aspiration profiles, but this also means the peer group spans a wide attainment range. Students expecting a highly selective environment should understand that the school prioritises inclusion.

Faith commitment expected (but flexible entry). While the school is oversubscribed and can prioritise Church of England families, entry without faith credentials is possible. However, the Christian character is genuine and pervasive: daily chapel, Christian values teaching, and the York Minster carol service are institutional cornerstones. Families uncomfortable with explicit Christian provision should carefully consider fit.

Limited Oxbridge representation. With 1 Oxbridge acceptance from 14 applications in the measured period, the school does not position itself as a pipeline to Oxford or Cambridge. Families with elite university aspirations should recognise that exceptional results matter, but the peer cohort and institutional resources are oriented toward broader university destinations.

Competitive sixth form entry. Progression into Year 12 is not automatic. GCSE grades in chosen A-level subjects must meet published thresholds (typically grade 5-6 depending on subject). Some students completing GCSE at Archbishop Holgate's will be directed toward further education colleges or apprenticeships; the school does not retain all Year 11 pupils.

Archbishop Holgate's is a well-led comprehensive secondary school with genuine institutional strength across academics, pastoral care and enrichment. The 2025 A-level results place it among England's stronger performers; GCSE outcomes sit solidly above England average. The Christian character and pastoral emphasis create a community where individual students are known and challenged. The facilities, particularly the LearningCentre@AHS, specialist blocks and sports infrastructure, support a genuinely broad education.

The school suits families within York seeking a community-oriented secondary with above-average academic outcomes, strong pastoral structures, and explicit Christian values. It works well for students who thrive on breadth, enrichment and explicit personal development focus. The scale (1,800 students) is manageable but large; students preferring smaller, more intimate environments may find the sibling form groups and year-team system insufficient compensation.

Best suited to families committed to a Church of England school with solid academics, strong pastoral care and genuine community engagement. The main challenge is entry: admissions are oversubscribed, particularly for families meeting faith criteria. For those who secure places, the educational experience is substantive and well-resourced.