1
Trinity Academy Cathedral
Wakefield • WF2 8QF
1
19 Jul 2022
Top 10 Secondary schools in Wakefield
Updated for the latest inspections (median graded year: 2022)
This Top 10 showcases secondary schools in the local authority of Wakefield. It’s built from the latest graded Ofsted inspections. We rank Outstanding (grade 1) above Good (grade 2), then prioritise newer inspections. As tie-breakers, we consider the “Quality of education” sub-judgement (where available), then %FSM and school size.
Total secondary schools
18
Outstanding
3
Good
12
Median inspection year
2022
Ofsted grade mix (graded schools)
O: 17% · G: 67% · RI: 17% · I: 0%
2
De Lacy Academy
Knottingley • West Yorkshire • WF11 0BZ
1
5 Jul 2022
3
Castleford Academy
Castleford • West Yorkshire • WF10 4JQ
1
11 Nov 2019
4
Outwood Grange Academy
Wakefield • West Yorkshire • WF1 2PF
2
9 Jun 2024
5
Crofton Academy
Wakefield • West Yorkshire • WF4 1NF
2
25 Sep 2023
6
St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy
Wakefield • WF2 6EQ
2
24 May 2023
7
Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College
Ossett • West Yorkshire • WF5 0DG
2
19 Feb 2023
8
The King's School
Pontefract • West Yorkshire • WF8 4JF
2
27 Nov 2022
9
Outwood Academy City Fields
Wakefield • West Yorkshire • WF1 4SF
2
5 May 2022
10
Horbury Academy
Wakefield • West Yorkshire • WF4 5HE
2
31 Dec 2021
How we rank these schools
- Headline Ofsted grade: Outstanding (1) outranks Good (2), then RI (3), then Inadequate (4).
- More recent graded inspection dates rank higher.
- Where available, we use the Quality of education sub-judgement as a tie-breaker.
- Lower free school meals (%) may break remaining ties.
- Larger roll (pupil count) is a final tie-breaker.
Only the ten highest-ranked schools are shown; we also list “near misses” just below.
About Ofsted grades
- Outstanding (1): Highest judgement across key areas.
- Good (2): Strong effectiveness; meets standards consistently.
- Requires improvement (3): Not yet good; clear areas to improve.
- Inadequate (4): Significant weaknesses found.
Ungraded Section 8 visits check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but they don’t replace it.
Data freshness & coverage
We refresh inspections and school snapshots regularly. If a school was inspected very recently, its report may not yet appear here.
Top-10 pages only appear for areas with at least 10 secondary schools that have a graded Ofsted inspection.
Map of the Top 10
Also highly rated nearby
- Carleton High School 2 • Sep 2019
- The Featherstone Academy 2 • Mar 2017
- Minsthorpe Community College 2 • Apr 2014
- St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy 2 • Apr 2012
- Kettlethorpe High School 2 • Oct 2011
- Airedale Academy 3 • Mar 2024
- Outwood Academy Freeston 3 • Jan 2023
- Outwood Academy Hemsworth 3 • Nov 2022