Carleton High School
97%
Capacity
1,021
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Carleton High School
Carleton High School sits comfortably above the Wakefield local authority average for Progress 8, with a score of 0.12 compared to the LA average of 0. This means pupils here make more academic progress from their starting points than the typical student across the borough. The school ranks 7th out of 18 secondary schools in Wakefield, placing it in the top 40% locally and in a similar percentile nationally. That’s a solid, above-average performance for a state secondary that serves a community where nearly 30% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 47.4 is respectable, and nearly 70% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with just under half hitting the stronger grade 5 benchmark. Carleton also has a strong EBacc entry rate of 68.3%, well above the national average, though the proportion of pupils actually achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above is lower at 27.6%.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, confirmed it has improved significantly since its last graded inspection in 2019, when it was rated Good. That 2019 inspection marked a dramatic turnaround from the previous Inadequate rating in 2017. Leadership and management were judged Good, and the school now holds a stable Good rating overall. Parent feedback is broadly positive: 84% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 87% felt their child is safe. A striking 86% agreed the school has high expectations for their child, and 84% said their child does well. However, communication around curriculum and concerns is more mixed — only 64% agreed the school keeps them informed about what their child will learn, and 54% felt concerns are dealt with properly.
Carleton is a popular school, oversubscribed for 2025/26 with 470 applications for 206 places, and 224 first-preference applications for 198 offers. It has a wide range of facilities including a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and playing fields, plus clubs from Model UN to gardening and martial arts. The school supports a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent views on SEND support are divided: 64% agreed the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 32% disagreed. With no sixth form, Carleton is a straight 11-16 school, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. It suits families who want a large, inclusive secondary with improving results and a strong extracurricular offer, in a community-focused Wakefield setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Green Lane, Pontefract, Wakefield, WF8 3NW |
| Headteacher | Shaheen Shariff |
| Local Authority | Wakefield |
| Number of Pupils | 1,021 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,021 / 1,050 (97% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (6 Nov 2024): Improved significantly
Source: Ofsted, 10 Sept 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.12)
1268th of 3,141
Nationally
111th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
7th of 18
In Wakefield
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 173 pupils).
- Sixth form college51%
- FE college23%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment8%
- Apprenticeship6%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
89% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
97 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed206
470
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
224 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British93.4%
- Mixed1.8%
- White (other)1.7%
- Asian0.4%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carleton High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Green Lane, Pontefract
Wakefield, WF8 3NW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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