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Reviewed

Greenhead College

State school · Huddersfield, HD1 4ES
  • Sixth form
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 16-19
  • 2,907 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

High standards and challenge are the norm here. Whilst some see it as an exam factory, those parents who know say Greenhead is anything but and ‘should be emulated by other colleges’. Students talk about the strong learning culture and want to be a part of the success. There’s a form of osmosis going on here - everyone appreciates how good it is and wants to be part of it.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
2,907 ·
Sixth form numbers
2 ·
Local authority
Kirklees Council

Headteacher

Principal

Mo Bunter

Since 2024, Mo Bunter, Greenhead’s first female principal. Hailing from the North East, she entered education late, having previously been a marketing manager in a large blue-chip company. Realising money was not her key motivator, she decided to use


Entrance

Applicants need three grade 6s at GCSE, including 4s in English and maths. Some additional subject specific criteria (eg 7 to study maths). Over 70 partner schools, with 11 local partner schools who get priority entry for the 1500 places, with

Open days
Please check school website

Exit

Nearly 90 per cent to university, over 40 per cent to Russell Group. In 2025, 18 to Oxbridge, with others to Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Durham, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Bristol, Liverpool and Edinburgh. Maths and sciences are popular courses; 63

% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)

School
81%
LA avg.
64%
Eng. avg.
66%
Data highlight

What is this?

The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.


Latest results

In 2025, 30 per cent A*/A at A level (60 per cent A*-B).

A level - Average points score (2024)

School
38.74
LA avg.
35.68
Eng. avg.
34.45
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.


Teaching & learning

Has a reputation for being one of the best performing colleges nationally, regularly featuring in the top 10 per cent for outcomes. Hard to beat on that front, say parents. Local perception is of a very academic, sometimes ‘too academic’, environment

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • BTEC
  • EPQ
  • VRQ

Learning support & SEN

Eighteen per cent on the SEN register; 17 of these students have ‘high needs’ and seven have an EHCP. Mostly cognition and learning, and medical and sensory - both accounting for around 40 per cent. They have ‘never not met a need of an applicant’,


Arts & extracurricular

Art and design classes take place at the top of a purpose-built block, where large windows and Velux provide oodles of light (even in Huddersfield). Plenty of space for some huge canvases with impressive displays. Exhibition work often sells – and we


Sport

The site is hemmed in, with playing fields a 10-minute walk away and other facilities (shared with the community) nearby. On-site, there is a two-court sports hall, a small all-weather pitch, two tennis courts and a gym. Good breadth of sports. The


Ethos & heritage

Bang in the middle of Huddersfield, established on site of 1920s girls’ grammar school. Working hard to shake off the crumbling vestiges of the original build with impressive new blocks and well designed, spacious facilities for most areas, with more


Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Thorough pastoral care, with 32 personal (non-teaching) tutors. Students get a tutorial every week, plus regular progress reviews. Wellbeing is strongly promoted, with a counselling service on-site. There’s even a therapy dog, appointments needed!


Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

The College recognises that there are many positive factors relating to the use of mobile phones by students, for example, increasing their safety on the journey to and from College and in providing the potential for closer contact with Parents/Carers. The College would encourage the use of mobile phones for such purposes however the use of mobile phones in lessons should only occur when the teacher gives permission, and the use is for educational purposes.

Updated Nov 2025

Pupils & parents

We found students confident and articulate – they talk about ‘being the best we can be’ and love to discuss their futures. Half are from socially disadvantaged post codes – the college is fully representative of the diverse local community, with the

2,907
Number of pupils

Money matters

Forty per cent of students qualify for bursary support.


The last word

High standards and challenge are the norm here. Whilst some see it as an exam factory, those parents who know say Greenhead is anything but and ‘should be emulated by other colleges’. Students talk about the strong learning culture and want to be a

This school has not provided any information yet

If you are from this school, please, get in touch to feature images and useful information for parents.

Contact the school

Address

Greenhead Road
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 4ES
Get directions

Have you considered?

School data & information Greenhead College Greenhead Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 4ES
2,907 Pupil numbers
1382/1525 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
2 Sixth form numbers

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

The College recognises that there are many positive factors relating to the use of mobile phones by students, for example, increasing their safety on the journey to and from College and in providing the potential for closer contact with Parents/Carers. The College would encourage the use of mobile phones for such purposes however the use of mobile phones in lessons should only occur when the teacher gives permission, and the use is for educational purposes.

Updated Nov 2025
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by Greenhead College and is updated annually. See the review

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
22.8%
LA avg.
18.8%
Eng. avg.
17.1%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
38.74
LA avg.
35.68
Eng. avg.
34.45

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCE A level 37 A
Sociology GCE A level 133 A
Religious Studies GCE A level 48 B
Psychology GCE A level 320 B
Physics GCE A level 188 B
Physical Education / Sports Studies GCE A level 63 B
Music Technology GCE A level 19 A
Music GCE A level 15 B
Mathematics (Statistics) GCE A level 34 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 92 A
Mathematics GCE A level 470 A
Law GCE A level 107 B
History GCE A level 203 B
Government and Politics GCE A level 67 B
Geology GCE A level 23 A
Geography GCE A level 131 B
French GCE A level 23 B
Film Studies GCE A level 33 A
English Literature GCE A level 119 A
English Language and Literature GCE A level 33 B
English Language GCE A level 86 A
Economics GCE A level 178 A
Drama and Theatre Studies GCE A level 11 B
Computer Studies / Computing GCE A level 80 B
Classical Civilisation GCE A level 47 A
Chemistry GCE A level 429 B
Business Studies:Single GCE A level 156 B
Biology GCE A level 472 B
Art and Design GCE A level 72 A
Mathematics (Further) GCE AS level 18 A

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 13 exit

SEN overview

Greenhead College is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Greenhead College provides A level courses for 16-to-19-year-olds. The College welcomes all students who reach its entry requirements and works to ensure they have equal access to the opportunities and experiences on offer. Every student has a personal tutor who monitors their progress and well-being. There is also a counselling service. Additional help with academic work is available from subject teachers and the College's study centre. Where a student has a specific learning difficulty or disability, the College's Additional Learning Support Manager works closely with the student, teachers and tutor to ensure that any special requirements are met.

Updated Oct 2016

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired
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