Most sought-after schools in Calderdale
Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.
This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.
This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.
| # | School | First preferences per place | Newest intake | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
All Saints' CofE Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.61 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 2 |
The Crossley Heath School Halifax, secondary |
1.53 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 3 |
Moorside Community Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.33 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 4 |
Bolton Brow Primary Academy Sowerby Bridge, primary |
1.24 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 5 |
Parkinson Lane Community Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.22 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 6 |
The North Halifax Grammar School Halifax, secondary |
1.16 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
Northowram Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.14 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 8 |
The Halifax Academy Halifax, all through |
1.14 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 9 |
Dean Field Community Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.13 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 10 |
Abbey Park Academy Halifax, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 11 |
Bailiffe Bridge Junior and Infant School Brighouse, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 12 |
Copley Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.09 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 13 |
Ryburn Valley High School Sowerby Bridge, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 14 |
Luddendenfoot Academy Halifax, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 15 |
Old Earth Primary School Elland, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 16 |
Brighouse High School Brighouse, secondary |
1.05 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 17 |
Trinity Academy Halifax Halifax, secondary |
1.03 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 18 |
Barkisland CofE VA Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 19 |
Castle Hill Primary School Todmorden, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 20 |
Central Street Infant and Nursery School Hebden Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 21 |
Ferney Lee Primary School Todmorden, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 22 |
Holywell Green Primary School Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 23 |
Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 24 |
Ripponden Junior and Infant School Sowerby Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 25 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy Sowerby Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 26 |
Scout Road Academy Hebden Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 27 |
Shade Primary School Todmorden, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 28 |
Shelf Junior and Infant School Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 29 |
St Andrew's Church of England (VA) Infant School Brighouse, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 30 |
St John's Primary School In Rishworth Sowerby Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 31 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy, Brighouse Brighouse, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 32 |
St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 33 |
St Michael and All Angels CofE Primary & Pre School Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 34 |
St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy Elland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 35 |
Stubbings Infant School Hebden Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 36 |
Todmorden CofE J, I & N School Todmorden, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 37 |
Trinity Academy St Chad's Brighouse, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 38 |
Trinity Academy St Peter's Sowerby Bridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 39 |
Walsden St Peter's CE (VC) Primary School Todmorden, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 40 |
Warley Town School Halifax, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 41 |
Bradshaw Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 42 |
Carr Green Primary School Brighouse, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 43 |
The Greetland Academy Halifax, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 44 |
Trinity Academy Whitehill Halifax, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 45 |
Warley Road Primary Academy Halifax, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 46 |
Lightcliffe C of E Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 47 |
Rastrick High School Brighouse, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 48 |
Ash Green Community Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 49 |
Beech Hill School Halifax, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 50 |
Bowling Green Academy Halifax, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 51 |
St John's (CofE) Primary Academy, Clifton Brighouse, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 52 |
Trinity Academy Akroydon Halifax, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 53 |
Woodhouse Primary School Brighouse, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 54 |
Cliffe Hill Community Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 55 |
Cornholme Junior, Infant and Nursery School Todmorden, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Urgent improvement (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 56 |
Longroyde Primary School Brighouse, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 57 |
New Road Primary School Sowerby Bridge, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy Todmorden, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 59 |
Withinfields Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 60 |
Cross Lane Primary and Nursery School Elland, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 61 |
Elland Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Junior, Infant and Nursery School Elland, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 62 |
Siddal Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 63 |
Wainstalls School Halifax, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 64 |
Holy Trinity Primary School, A Church of England Academy Halifax, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 65 |
Savile Park Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 66 |
Triangle CofE VC Primary School Sowerby Bridge, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 67 |
Mount Pellon Primary Academy Halifax, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 68 |
Park Lane Academy Halifax, secondary |
0.85 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 69 |
The Brooksbank School Elland, secondary |
0.85 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 70 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy Halifax, primary |
0.84 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 71 |
Salterlee Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.83 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 72 |
Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary School Halifax, primary |
0.82 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 73 |
Lee Mount Academy Halifax, primary |
0.77 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 74 |
Salterhebble Junior and Infant School Halifax, primary |
0.70 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 75 |
Trinity Academy Grammar Sowerby Bridge, secondary |
0.69 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 76 |
Lightcliffe Academy Halifax, secondary |
0.55 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 76 schools in Calderdale have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Calderdale · How we compare schools.