Ofsted

Our December 2024 Ofsted Inspection judged Ilkley Grammar School as an Outstanding school in all areas.  

Ilkley Grammar School has been judged outstanding in all five categories of Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Sixth-form provision, and Leadership and Management.

Following two day inspection on December 10 and 11, 2024, the Inspection Team concluded: "Ilkley Grammar School is an amazing school” where “every pupil gets a chance to shine”.

The report highlighted 

• the exceptional quality of education with a “sophisticated” and “rich curriculum that ensures all students achieve well,” with staff who “are passionate about their subjects”, are “experts at adapting lessons to meet pupils’ needs” and who “use many strategies to help pupils learn”, including the skilful integration of technology into lessons.
•  “a calm environment where pupils behave exceptionally well”, where “pupils enjoy their lessons and behave in a way that enables deep, meaningful classroom learning”, where they “discuss and debate through thought-provoking discussion,” and where they “care and show respect for each other.”
• the school’s ambitious personal development offer which goes way beyond what is expected of schools, with leaders ensuring there is something for everyone.
• Sixth-form provision was praised as “a shining light within school,” with inspectors noting that “the school’s sixth-form students help set the positive tone for the whole school.”

Read the full inspection report published December 2024

In January 2023, Ilkley Grammar School had an ungraded inspection, retaining its Outstanding status.

Inspectors stated:

• Pupils at Ilkley Grammar School have high levels of respect for each other and their teachers. Relationships between teachers and pupils are warm and caring.”
• All pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), access an ambitious curriculum.
• Leaders’ plans for pupils’ wider development are thorough. The ‘iLeader’ programme develops from Year 7 to Year 13 so that pupils can take on more responsibility as they move through the school.
• The school is inclusive. Pupils across the main school, the sixth form and the additionally resourced provision form one community. This helps pupils to feel safe. Bullying is incredibly rare.
• Behaviour in lessons is calm and purposeful. Pupils engage with the activities that teachers plan.

Read the ungraded inspection report published January 2023

Our March 2017 Ofsted Inspection judged Ilkley Grammar School as an Outstanding school in all areas.  

In their words:

• Teachers go the ‘extra mile’ to make sure that pupils achieve, feel cared for and thrive within a supportive and productive learning environment.
• Pupils’ behaviour in and around the school is exemplary. They conduct themselves well, are smartly dressed and ready to learn.
• The curriculum is a real strength of the school and demonstrates leaders’ strong moral compass. It combines academic excellence with a strong focus on pupils becoming effective and well-rounded individuals.
• Teachers’ high expectations are at the heart of teaching in the school. Pupils’ progress has been extremely strong, including for the most able and pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding.
• Pupils not only attain high standards at the end of key stage 4 but also make excellent progress from their starting points. This includes those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and the most able, including the most able disadvantaged. This twin-track approach of high standards and excellent progress means that all groups of pupils are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their education, employment or training.

Read the full inspection report published March 2017