Schools in Wakefield
Wakefield at a glance
- Schools
- 136 113 state primary, 18 state secondary, 3 sixth-form or college and 2 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 90% 101 of the 112 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 12 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 27 Of 123 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 0% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 0 of 131 state schools that take an intake. Wakefield's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Wakefield
Primary
| Place in Wakefield | School | Town | Band in England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ark Larks Hill Primary School | Pontefract | Top 1% |
| 2 | Ark Carleton Park Primary School | Pontefract | Top 1% |
| 3 | Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate | Wakefield | Top 5% |
| 4 | Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School | Pontefract | Top 5% |
| 5 | Ark The Rookeries Carleton Primary School | Pontefract | Top 5% |
| 6 | Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy | Wakefield | Top 5% |
| 7 | Middlestown Primary Academy | Wakefield | Top 5% |
| 8 | Jerry Clay Academy | Wakefield | Top 5% |
| 9 | Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane | Pontefract | Top 5% |
| 10 | Rooks Nest Academy | Wakefield | Top 10% |
Ranked on three years of results, progress first, the same measures as the full Wakefield primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Wakefield | School | Town | Band in England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castleford Academy | Castleford | Top half |
| 2 | Horbury Academy | Wakefield | Top half |
| 3 | Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College | Ossett | Top half |
| 4 | Trinity Academy Cathedral | Wakefield | Top half |
| 5 | Crofton Academy | Wakefield | Top half |
| 6 | Ark The King's School | Pontefract | Top half |
| 7 | St Thomas � Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy | Wakefield | Top half |
| 8 | Ark Carleton High School | Pontefract | Top half |
| 9 | Outwood Grange Academy | Wakefield | Top half |
| 10 | Kettlethorpe High School | Wakefield | Top half |
Ranked on three years of results, progress first, the same measures as the full Wakefield secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Barnsley 1 school · best schools
- Castleford 15 schools · best schools
- Knottingley 6 schools · best schools
- Normanton 9 schools · best schools
- Ossett 8 schools · best schools
- Pontefract 42 schools · best schools
- West Yorkshire 1 school · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Wakefield council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Wakefield council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Wakefield council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Wakefield council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Wakefield council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Wakefield council |
Every Wakefield admission date · After offer day in Wakefield: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Wakefield. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 0 of 131 state schools (0%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Wakefield: we hold checked fees for 1 of 2 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 72 nurseries and pre-schools in Wakefield, with fees held for 7. Nurseries in Wakefield by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Wakefield, A to Z by town
Barnsley
Castleford
- Ackton Pastures Primary Academy
- Airedale Academy
- Airedale Infant Academy
- Airedale Junior Academy
- Castleford Academy
- Castleford Park Junior Academy
- Castleford Three Lane Ends Academy
- Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery
- Fairburn View Primary School, Castleford
- Glasshoughton Infant Academy
- Half Acres Primary Academy
- Oyster Park Primary Academy
- Smawthorne Henry Moore Academy
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Castleford
- Townville Academy
Knottingley
- De Lacy Academy
- England Lane Academy
- Simpson's Lane Academy
- St Botolphs CE Academy
- The Vale Primary Academy
- Willow Green Academy
Normanton
- Altofts Junior Academy
- Lee Brigg Infant and Nursery School
- Martin Frobisher Infant School
- Newlands Primary School
- Normanton All Saints CofE Infant School
- Normanton Common Primary Academy
- Normanton Junior Academy
- Outwood Academy Freeston
- St. John the Baptist Catholic Primary School
Ossett
- Dimple Well Infant School and Nursery
- Gawthorpe Community Academy
- Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College
- Ossett Flushdyke Junior and Infant School
- Ossett Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School
- Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
- South Ossett Infant Academy
- Towngate Primary Academy
Pontefract
- Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
- Ackworth Mill Dam School
- Ark Carleton High School
- Ark Carleton Park Primary School
- Ark De Lacy Primary School
- Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School
- Ark Larks Hill Primary School
- Ark Northfield Primary School
- Ark Orchard Head Primary School
- Ark The King's School
- Ark The Rookeries Carleton Primary School
- Ash Grove Primary Academy
- Badsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
- Cherry Tree Academy
- Darrington Church of England Primary School
- Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy
- Featherstone Girnhill Infant School
- Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School
- Featherstone Purston Infant School
- Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
- Fitzwilliam Primary School
- Grove Lea Primary School
- Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
- King's Meadow Academy
- Minsthorpe Community College
- Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource
- New College Pontefract
- Outwood Academy Hemsworth
- Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
- South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School
- South Kirkby Academy
- South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School
- St Giles C of E Academy
- St Helen's CE Primary School
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe
- St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy
- Streethouse Junior, Infant and Nursery School
- The Featherstone Academy
- Upton Primary School
- West End Academy
Wakefield
- Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
- CAPA College
- Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School
- Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School
- Crigglestone St James CofE Primary Academy
- Crofton Academy
- Crofton Infant School
- Crofton Junior School
- English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
- Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
- Hendal Primary School
- Horbury Academy
- Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy
- Horbury Primary Academy
- Horbury St Peter's and Clifton CofE (VC) Primary School
- Jerry Clay Academy
- Kettlethorpe High School
- Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource
- Middlestown Primary Academy
- Newton Hill Community School
- Ossett South Parade Primary
- Outwood Academy City Fields
- Outwood Grange Academy
- Outwood Primary Academy Greenhill
- Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate
- Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane
- Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate
- Outwood Primary Academy Newstead Green
- Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill
- Queen Elizabeths School Wakefield
- Rooks Nest Academy
- Ryhill Junior, Infant and Nursery School
- Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School
- Sandal Magna Community Academy
- Sharlston Community School
- Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School
- Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School
- St Austin's Catholic Primary School
- St Ignatius Catholic Primary School
- St Michael's CofE Academy
- St Thomas � Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy
- Stanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy
- Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
- The Mount Junior Infant & Nursery School
- Trinity Academy Cathedral
- Wakefield Flanshaw Junior and Infant School
- Wakefield Lawefield Primary School
- Wakefield Pinders Primary (JIN) School
- Wakefield Snapethorpe Primary School
- Wakefield St Johns Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School
- Wakefield St Marys Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
- Walton Primary Academy
- West Bretton Junior and Infant School
- Wrenthorpe Academy
West Yorkshire
Add this to your plan
Save your children and your home, and we keep the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours together.
Add this to your planContains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. All sources.