Schools in Bradford

Bradford has 163 schools, the vast majority (158) within Bradford Metropolitan District Council, which covers the city itself as well as smaller towns such as Ilkley, Keighley, Bingley and Shipley. Bradford MDC uses a complex admissions system that includes feeder school links for some secondary schools, as well as faith, sibling and distance criteria.

Bradford is home to a large number of Church of England and Roman Catholic schools, as well as several Islamic faith schools, making faith criteria a significant factor in admissions decisions across the district. Families should check whether their target school is faith-designated and obtain a supplementary information form if needed.

At primary level, oversubscription tends to be concentrated in the Wharfedale towns such as Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Burley in Wharfedale, where demand for places is high relative to the number of schools. In the city centre and surrounding areas, schools are generally more accessible.