Offices and the Society of Friends Meeting House occupy the original site next to St Peter's Church.

It has a reputation for its academic work, for several years the sixth form has been ranked amongst the top thirty nationally for A-level results in a comprehensive state school, and also for sport (Sportsmark Award and regular success in national competitions), for music, drama and other activities.

Canon Slade School is set on a 57-acre (230,000 m2) site in the foothills of the West Pennine Moors on which are hundreds of mature trees, a river bank, two wildlife ponds, one of which is inhabited by several endangered species of amphibian, extensive sports fields, including a cross-country course and floodlit all-weather pitch.

[3] To gain access to the sixth form candidates must hold a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 9 - 6 including English Language and Mathematics.

[citation needed] The range of A Level subjects offered includes Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Computing, Dance, Design Technology, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics and Business Studies, English Language, English Language and Literature, English Literature, Environmental Science, Film Studies, Food Technology, French, General Studies, Geography, Geology, German, History, Information and Communication Technology, Law, Mathematics: Further, Pure and Applied, Mathematics: Pure and Mechanics, Mathematics: Pure and Statistics, Music, Music Technology, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology and Spanish.