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Schools in Shipley

A town in Bradford

  • Town
  • 20 schools and nurseries
  • 3,257 pupils

In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are close to England, and results at 16 were close to England in 2026. Missing school is a bigger problem than across England.

Three children with backpacks crossing a street
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

Shipley at a glance

Behind England on attendance

How Shipley's schools compare with England, area by area.

DfE and Ofsted data, 2014 to 2026How we work this out
  • Schools and nurseries208 primary · 1 secondary · 10 nurseries
  • Primaries Good or better100%England 96%
  • Met the standard at 1161%England 62%
  • Grade 5 in English and maths41%Attainment 8 44.5, England 46.2
  • Free school meals, primary25%A sign of family income
  • Missed a lot of school20%England 18%
Top-rated

The highest-rated schools in Shipley

Primary and secondary schools are ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. Nurseries, special and independent schools aren't ranked. A high score isn't everything: always visit.

All Shipley primary schools

Top Primary Schools in Shipley

8 mainstream schools in Shipley, best first

Low Ash Primary School

Shipley, BD18 1AA · State · Primary · Ages 3 to 11

  • Ofsted:Good

Results well above the England average.

80 first choices, 59 offers made

Met the standard at 1170%

England 62%

Days missed
4.8%
Pupils
478
Pupils per teacher
21.2
View school Low Ash Primary School

Top Secondary Schools in Shipley

1 mainstream schools in Shipley, best first

Dixons Cottingley Academy

Bingley, BD16 1TZ · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 16

  • Ofsted:Good

Results close to the England average.

90 first choices, 172 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1644.5

England 46.2

Days missed
11.8%
Pupils
861
Pupils per teacher
17.2
View school Dixons Cottingley Academy

Nurseries in Shipley

10 in Shipley, highest Ofsted grade first

The map

Every school in Shipley, on one map

Each dot is a school or nursery, coloured by its latest Ofsted grade. Point at a dot to see its name, or use the list.

See them as a list
Show
Hirst Wood Nursery School, GoodSaltaire Primary School, GoodLow Ash Primary School, GoodChrist Church Church of England Academy, GoodHigh Crags Primary Leadership Academy, GoodSt Walburga's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, GoodDixons Cottingley Academy, GoodWycliffe CofE Primary School, GoodShipley CofE Primary School, GoodBradford Alternative Provision Academy, OutstandingSt Anthony's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, GoodKiddi-Creche Private Day Nursery (The School House), GoodLeelas Ladybirds Ltd, GoodNuffy Day Nursery - Cottingley, GoodSunbeams Nursery, Expected standard in every areaLittle Ducklings Creche, GoodWestfield House Childcare Ltd, GoodLittle Hearts Nursery Shipley, OutstandingCliffe House Day Nursery, GoodPartou Ashmoor Day Nursery & Pre-School, Good
  • Outstanding2
  • Good17
  • Not graded yet1
Before you apply

Apply through the council where you live

Your home council handles your application, wherever the school is. Living nearby doesn't guarantee a place: each school's admission rules decide.

By age

What's on offer for each age

Pick a stage to see every Shipley school for that age, with filters for type, faith and Ofsted grade.

More ways to narrow it down

Here's how Shipley's schools break down by type, faith and more.

Postcodes

Browse Shipley by postcode

Some areas, like parts of a bigger town, are easiest to find by postcode.

Shipley vs England

How good are Shipley's schools?

Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.

Worked out by Eduscope from each school's published figures. Not an official statistic for this town.

Numbers that sum up Shipley

ShipleyEngland

  • Primaries rated Good or Outstanding

    Latest Ofsted grade, 8 primaries with one.

    100%

    England 96%

    Close to England

  • Secondaries rated Good or Outstanding

    1 of the 1 with a grade.

    100%

    England 93%

    Above England

  • Met the expected standard at 11

    Reading, writing and maths.

    61%

    England 62%

    Close to England

  • Grade 5 or above in English and maths

    At GCSE.

    41%

  • Pupils who miss a lot of school

    Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.

    20%

    England 18%

    Worse than England

  • Primary pupils on free school meals

    A sign of family income, not of school quality.

    25%

Ofsted grades

Latest graded inspection for the 11 schools that have one.

100%

Good or Outstanding

  • Outstanding1
  • Good10
  • Requires improvement0
  • Inadequate0

How it has changed

Shipley in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

Met the expected standard at 11
Covid gap50%65%80%20182019202320242025
61% in 2025. England now 62% (dashed line).
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Covid gap0%30%60%201920222023202420252026
41% in 2026.
Pupils who miss a lot of school
Covid gap0%15%30%20142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
20% in 2025. England now 18% (dashed line).
Living here

What it's like for families

Shipley has 20 schools and nurseries.

There are 5% more pupils than in 2018.

25% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.

Pupil numbers

Pupils in Shipley's state schools each January.

Up 5% since 2018. More children can mean popular schools fill up faster.

Free school meals

Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.

Shipley25%

Dates to know

Apply through your local council, even for academies and faith schools.

  • 31 OctSecondary deadlineFor children starting Year 7.
  • 15 JanPrimary deadlineFor children starting Reception.
  • 1 MarSecondary offersOffers day for Year 7 places.
  • 16 AprPrimary offersOffers day for Reception places.

Keep up with schools in Shipley

Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.

Questions

Questions parents ask about Shipley

How many schools are in Shipley?

Shipley has 20 schools, including 8 primary schools, 2 secondary schools, 10 nurseries. Some count in more than one group. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.

What are the best schools in Shipley?

The highest-ranked schools in Shipley on Eduscope are St Walburga's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, Low Ash Primary School, St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy. We rank each state school against schools of the same phase across England on its Ofsted inspection, results and attendance. Independent, special and nursery schools aren't ranked.

What percentage of schools in Shipley are rated Good or Outstanding?

100% of inspected schools in Shipley hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is above the England average of 94.8%. This includes 1 school rated Outstanding and 10 rated Good.

How do primary schools in Shipley perform at Key Stage 2?

Across primary schools in Shipley, 61% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.

What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in Shipley?

The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in Shipley is 18.2:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. Across England it is 17.9:1.

What is the persistent absence rate in Shipley schools?

The persistent absence rate across schools in Shipley is 19.9%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. Across England it is 18.1%.

How many pupils attend schools in Shipley?

There are 3,257 pupils enrolled across schools in Shipley, with 2,232 in primary and 941 in secondary. 29.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

How do I choose the right school in Shipley?

Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 20 schools in Shipley by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.

Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.

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