Minsthorpe Community College
Pontefract, WF9 2UJ · Wakefield · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th 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 — 6.6/10 against 686 of them, against 5.0/10 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% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.7 · 39 | 30% | 1.18 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.21 · 65 | 25% | 1.63 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.7 · 43 | 10% | 0.43 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Minsthorpe Community College overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 36.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.21 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 (6.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Boxercise, Functional training, Spinning, Legs Bums & Tums, Yoga, Bootcamp, Dance classes, and Gymnastics. Trips include a Barcelona Football Tour, MFL Paris Trip, Watersports Trip, Austria Skiing Trip, and London Football Academy Tour. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,609 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,755. 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 close the gap between the current Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the various sports and trip options organised for
What Ofsted said about Minsthorpe Community College
Overview
Minsthorpe Community College continues to be a good school, characterised by a "focused, purposeful atmosphere" and "warm and respectful" relationships. Leaders maintain high expectations, resulting in pupils who are "confident, well-mannered and eager to share their opinions" and generally achieve well.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "ambitious for all pupils" and organised in a "logical order," helping learners make links between prior and new learning.
- Teachers possess "good subject knowledge" and use assessment effectively to check understanding and address gaps in knowledge quickly.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported, with staff who "know the pupils well and target support positively."
- The school offers a broad range of extra-curricular activities and trips, contributing to pupils’ personal development and enjoyment of school life.
- Staff feel valued due to strong leadership support for workload and well-being, fostering a culture where staff are "proud to work at the school."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should further develop the curriculum so that it is "equally strong in all subject areas," as some currently do not match the quality of the strongest subjects.
- The school must strengthen attendance systems and strategies to address the issue that "too many pupils still do not attend school regularly," which limits their learning.
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 | 41.8 |
| 2024/25 | 41.3 |
| 2025/26 | 44.7 |
| 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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