Castleford Academy
Castleford, WF10 4JQ · Wakefield · secondary school
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2nd of 18 secondary schools in Wakefield we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.9/10 against 828 of them, against 6.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 48.4 · 59 | 46% | 2.72 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.41 · 80 | 38% | 3.06 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.8 · 54 | 15% | 0.84 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Castleford Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.41 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join clubs including Homework, Crochet, Pride, Writing, D&T, Debate, Mulling Over Movies, and Game Design. Sports options include Rugby, Fitness, Netball, Football, Badminton, Trampolining, and Darts. Arts and music activities feature School of Rock, Wizard of Oz rehearsals, Soul Band, Art, Minecraft, BSL, and Science Clubs. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,480 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8 scores? How are the various
What Ofsted said about Castleford Academy
Overview
Castleford Academy is a secondary school with high ambitions for pupils, fostering a culture where students are taught to be ‘ready, respectful and safe’. The report highlights that pupils achieve highly across most subjects and benefit from an ‘exemplary programme of personal development’ that broadens their horizons.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate ‘mature attitudes to learning’ and are ‘studious in lessons’, with bullying being rare and handled quickly.
- The curriculum is ‘well thought out’ and based on educational research, ensuring pupils ‘know more and remember more over time’.
- There is a ‘relentless focus on reading’, with pupils challenged by high-quality texts and receiving swift support if they struggle.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘swiftly identified’ and receive ‘precise support’ to access learning.
- Leaders are ‘determined to improve the life chances of pupils’ and share expertise with other schools.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure teachers set work that is clearly understood by pupils and that checks for understanding are effective to prevent gaps in long-term knowledge.
- Consistency in applying the behavioural policy needs improvement, as behaviour can be ‘more variable’ in some lessons.
- The number of pupils entering the English Baccalaureate remains below the national average.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.6 |
| 2024/25 | 48.5 |
| 2025/26 | 46.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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