After a third record exam year, Brooksbank Secondary School in Calderdale, opens its doors on 8 October

Staff at the Elland school say the results are only part of the story, and families can get a real feel for the school from 5.30pm.

The Brooksbank School has broken its own GCSE record three years running, but staff say its success is rooted in something bigger than exam outcomes alone.

High expectations, strong pastoral support and a shared commitment to helping every child thrive sit at the heart of the school. Ask staff what makes Brooksbank special, and conversations are just as likely to focus on relationships, opportunities and personal growth as they are on results.

Those values are also reflected in the school's academic performance. Last summer, 75% of students passed both English and Maths at Grade 4 or higher, around 10 percentage points above the national average. That is roughly 32 more young people leaving on results day without a retake to worry about. Here 57% achieved a Grade 5 or above in both subjects, the grade that opens the door to A-levels, competitive apprenticeships and the strongest college courses. Brooksbank is now among the top three non-selective schools in Calderdale for overall attainment across all subjects. Students make progress well above national between Year 7 and Year 11, and Ofsted rated the school Good in every area.

A whole team around each child

Staff describe it as a team effort, and they mean the whole school rather than just the teaching staff. Canteen staff lay on hot breakfasts before exams. Teachers stay behind when something has not clicked. The pastoral team keeps an eye out for students who have gone quiet. One parent described staff noticing a change in their child, arranging a meeting the same day and putting a support plan in place within hours.

Rooted in Elland

Outside lessons, more than forty clubs run most weeks, from Minecraft to Singing Club, and the school has been known for its sport for decades. Nearly 600 younger students go out into Elland twice a year to litter pick and clear the park, and more than a hundred older ones take on community roles with partners including Overgate Hospice. Brooksbank has stood in the town for over 300 years.

Headteacher Darren Atkinson said: “We are not interested in dressing this place up. Walk the corridors on an ordinary Tuesday and you will see what we are actually proud of, which is young people looking out for each other and staff who will not give up on them. The results have followed from that, not the other way round. When people here say they bleed blue, that is what they mean.”

Come and see for yourself

Families can tour the school, meet staff and talk to current students about what it is actually like. Applications for Year 7 places are made through the Calderdale Council website by 31 October. Families wishing to apply for a Sporting Aptitude place should apply via the school website by Friday 9 October.

If you are unable to attend the open evening or you have any questions, please get in touch by email to [email protected] or phone 01422 374791. To find out more, visit the website