Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #1 in Wakefield public Top 13% UK

The King's School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Jo Cross

corporate_farePONTEFRACT ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onPontefract, WF8 4JF

language Visit Website phone 1977601701

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

1,037

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.9

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GCSE Rank

#2 in Wakefield

#945 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The King's School is a Academy converter secondary school in Pontefract, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The King's School is an academy converter in Pontefract, Wakefield, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of PONTEFRACT ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,038 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.9, placing the school #2 in Wakefield and #945 of 3,216 nationally. 60.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 26.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 10.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

49.9

Grade 5+ E&M

60.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)26.3%

Entering EBacc46.60%

EBacc APS4.52

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc67.60%

EBacc APS4.5

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.54

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc63%

EBacc APS4.69

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.54

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS4.64

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21%

EBacc APS3.97

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS4.08

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 October 2022

Inspection Report

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20 June 2017

Inspection Report

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09 June 2015

Inspection Report

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04 April 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-10-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-06-20

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-06-09

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

6.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.9%(40 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,038 pupils. During this period, there were 69 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,038	69	6.6%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,034	148	14.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,036	105	10.1%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,033	128	12.4%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,031	146	14.2%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,030	120	11.7%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,037	60	5.8%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,037	92	8.9%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,020	63	6.2%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,022	133	13.0%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,024	58	5.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,019	31	3.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,022	9	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,023	52	5.1%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,017	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,017	76	7.5%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,025	88	8.6%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,023	59	5.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,025	52	5.1%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,027	188	18.3%	3.8%	4
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,029	79	7.7%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,027	59	5.7%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,029	76	7.4%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,033	64	6.2%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,034	106	10.3%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,038	50	4.8%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 41 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 35 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 15 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Physical Disability 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

83.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

84.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree45%

agree42%

disagree6%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree25%

agree37%

disagree27%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree19%

disagree12%

strongly disagree13%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes29%

no71%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree23%

agree29%

disagree19%

strongly disagree26%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree58%

agree28%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree41%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree42%

agree36%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree41%

agree47%

disagree4%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree65%

agree30%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree40%

agree31%

disagree10%

strongly disagree8%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes82%

no18%

Top Secondary Schools in Wakefield

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College

Good

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Trinity Academy Cathedral

Outstanding

location_on Wakefield, WF2 8QF

emoji_events #3 in LA

Horbury Academy

Good

location_on Wakefield, WF4 5HE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Kettlethorpe High School

Good

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emoji_events #5 in LA

Castleford Academy

Outstanding

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emoji_events #6 in LA

Carleton High School

Good

location_on Pontefract, WF8 3NW

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Wakefield arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Wakefield

Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College

Trinity Academy Cathedral

Horbury Academy

Kettlethorpe High School

Castleford Academy

Carleton High School