Kettlethorpe High School
Wakefield, WF2 7EL · Wakefield · secondary school
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7th 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 — 7.2/10 against 890 of them, against 6.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.83 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 57.0 · 77 | 30% | 2.32 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.06 · 46 | 25% | 1.15 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.8 · 64 | 10% | 0.65 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kettlethorpe High School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2022. In 2024/25, 47.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.06 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than peers nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,616 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,750. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Kettlethorpe High School
Overview
Kettlethorpe High School is described as a "popular, inclusive and well-led school" where pupils enjoy attending and maintain "positive and respectful relationships" with staff. The inspection confirms that the school continues to be good, with leaders demonstrating high ambition for the curriculum and a strong culture of reading and personal development.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "well thought through," with a "remarkably high" proportion of pupils studying the English Baccalaureate suite of challenging subjects.
- Teachers employ effective strategies to help pupils recall knowledge, such as "blast from the past" activities in mathematics, resulting in work that is "often of a high quality."
- There is a "well-embedded culture of reading," supported by rewards and specific lessons, alongside a high-profile PSHE programme and successful careers advice.
- Pupils feel safe and valued, with "positive and respectful relationships" and effective support for wider development, including charitable activities and a proactive pupil parliament.
Areas to improve
- Subject leaders must ensure all pupils are "suitably challenged within lessons," as occasionally some are not pushed enough, limiting the new content they learn.
- Leaders should review SEND support to ensure teachers know the "specific actions to take" so that pupils with special educational needs receive appropriate adaptations in every lesson.
- Leaders need to enact plans to embed numeracy across the school, raising its profile and ensuring consistency to match the successful approach used for reading.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils feeling safe, staff trained to spot concerns, and records that are "detailed and well managed."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.6 |
| 2024/25 | 46.9 |
| 2025/26 | 48.8 |
| 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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