Woodkirk Academy
Wakefield, WF3 1JQ · Leeds · secondary school
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21st of 45 secondary schools in Leeds we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 7.6/10 against 890 of them, against 7.2/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 58.4 · 79 | 30% | 2.38 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.15 · 60 | 25% | 1.51 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 52.3 · 78 | 10% | 0.78 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Woodkirk Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 62.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 52.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.15 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,769 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,785. 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 in raising their Progress 8 scores further? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8 beyond the national median? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating in practice?
What Ofsted said about Woodkirk Academy
Overview
Woodkirk Academy continues to be a good school, where pupils are happy and feel safe within a culture defined by the ethos to ‘be kind, work hard and take responsibility’. Leaders provide a high-quality education with an ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils well for further study, training, and life in modern Britain.
Strengths
- Respectful, positive relationships are central to school life, with pupils feeling valued and comfortable seeking support.
- The curriculum is ‘ambitious and well-sequenced’, ensuring pupils build knowledge logically and achieve very well.
- Teachers use ‘live’ marking and questioning to spot and address misconceptions immediately during lessons.
- Pupils receive high-quality careers guidance from Year 7, including university visits and work experience.
- Staff feel valued and receive high-quality professional development, while governors hold leaders to account effectively.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should develop ‘consistent and purposeful assessment systems’ to ensure pupils retain important knowledge, as current approaches vary between subjects.
- Leaders should refine support for the minority of pupils with poor behaviour to help them ‘self-regulate’, reducing missed lesson time and suspensions.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders being ‘acutely aware of the local risks’ and working proactively with external agencies to protect pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.8 |
| 2024/25 | 52.8 |
| 2025/26 | 52.3 |
| 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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