A Harrogate secondary school has been rated in the UK’s top five schools for sport.

St Aidan’s Church of England High School achieved an outstanding national accolade in School Sport Magazine, securing 24th place in the Top 200 Sporting Schools of 2025.

Among state schools, St Aidan’s ranks an exceptional fifth nationally, reflecting both the remarkable achievements of its students and the dedication of the staff.

The in-depth annual rankings assess performance across more than 20 different sports and more than 120 national competitions.

St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate is highly rated for its sporting excellence and participation, celebrating competitive success and the positive impact on student wellbeing and school life. (Picture contributed)

placeholder image — St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate is highly rated for its sporting excellence and participation, celebrating competitive success and the positive impact on student wellbeing and school life. (Picture contributed)

John Strover, Director of Learning: Health and Wellbeing, said: “This recognition is something our entire school community can be incredibly proud of.

“It highlights the strength of our extracurricular programme, known as The St Aidan’s Offer, the culture of participation we have built, and the professionalism of the staff who work so hard behind the scenes.”

The school said it wanted to extends its sincere thanks to its highly committed and exceptional PE department, along with a couple of key staff, whose leadership, coaching expertise and tireless organisation underpin this success.

Their ongoing work - spanning evenings, weekends, fixtures, training sessions and national tournaments – has played a pivotal role in enabling students to thrive across such a wide range of sporting disciplines.

Headteacher Sian Dover said: “At St Aidan’s we strive to ensure that all our students flourish, breaking down any barrier to allow every individual to experience “life in all its fullness”.

"Our fully inclusive St. Aidan’s offer is given the time and status it deserves to support us in achieving such an incredible outcome”.

St Aidan's Church of England High School in Harrogate started in 1968, formed from boys' Christ Church School and girls' St Peter's School, becoming a large, successful comprehensive known for its strong ecumenical Sixth Form with St John Fisher Catholic High School and high academic standards, becoming an academy in 2011.

In March 2015 it became a proud member of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust.

It continues to champion sporting excellence and participation, celebrating competitive success and the positive impact on student wellbeing and school life.

More information: www.yorkshirecausewayschoolstrust.co.uk