Graded inspection · Oct 2022 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Wakefield
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good | |||
| Personal development | Good | |||
| Leadership and management | Good |
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry487 applications · 207 places offered · 188 named it first
- 2026 2.4; Wakefield median median 1.6
- 2025 2.6; Wakefield median median 1.8
- 2024 2.3; Wakefield median median 1.7
- 2023 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.6
- 2022 2.1; Wakefield median median 1.6
- 2021 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.6
- 2020 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.7
- 2019 2.1; Wakefield median median 1.6
- 2018 2.2; Wakefield median median 1.7
- 2017 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.7
- 2016 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.7
- 2015 2.2; Wakefield median median 1.8
- 2014 1.9; Wakefield median median 1.7
- This school
- Wakefield median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 207 | 487 | 2.4 | 188 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2025 | 202 | 526 | 2.6 | 220 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2024 | 205 | 477 | 2.3 | 194 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2023 | 203 | 403 | 2.0 | 208 | 1.02 |
| Sep 2022 | 207 | 436 | 2.1 | 244 | 1.18 |
| Sep 2021 | 198 | 388 | 2.0 | 194 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2020 | 207 | 416 | 2.0 | 247 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2019 | 209 | 446 | 2.1 | 238 | 1.14 |
| Sep 2018 | 206 | 442 | 2.2 | 257 | 1.25 |
| Sep 2017 | 204 | 367 | 1.8 | 200 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2016 | 205 | 416 | 2.0 | 233 | 1.14 |
| Sep 2015 | 205 | 457 | 2.2 | 226 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2014 | 204 | 390 | 1.9 | 193 | 0.95 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 208 | 51.8 | 57% | 79% | – |
| 2024/25 | 206 | 49.9 | 60% | 76% | – |
| 2023/24 | 207 | 49.0 | 57% | 75% | +0.10 |
| 2022/23 | 206 | 51.4 | 60% | 75% | +0.54 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Ark The King's SchoolThis schoolThis schoolGood20222.4applications per place 51.8Attainment 8
- 1.4 km · WakefieldImproved significantly20242.4applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
- 1.9 km · WakefieldRemains Good20222.4applications per place 39.7Attainment 8
- 20262.2applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
- 4.0 km · WakefieldRequires improvement20241.3applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
- 4.7 km · WakefieldGraded · no overall grade20251.6applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
- 5.4 km · Wakefield20261.2applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
- 6.3 km · WakefieldGraded · no overall grade20251.4applications per place 44.6Attainment 8
- 8.0 km · WakefieldGraded · no overall grade20251.4applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 139500 · 384/4020
- Trust
- Ark Schools
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,050 pupils · 1,041 on roll
- Free school meals
- 26.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 April 2013
- Replaced
- The King's School Specialising in Mathematics and Computing (URN 108275)
- Address
- Mill Hill Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4JF
- Local authority
- Wakefield
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources