Classpot

Castleford Academy

Wakefield, WF10 4JQSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Good
Jan 2025
Progress 8
+0.41
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
316 1st-choice / 279 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#635 of 3,141 nationally

About Castleford Academy

Castleford Academy is a large secondary school in Wakefield, running close to full with 1,477 pupils against a capacity of 1,500. Its intake reflects a higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 27.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a national secondary average of around 23-24%. The school is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 476 applications for 279 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.71, and 316 of those applications were first-preference choices. Of the 279 places available, 278 went to first-preference applicants, suggesting that for most families who put it top of their list, it worked out. The school is non-denominational and mixed, taking pupils from age 11 to 16, with no sixth form on site.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressFerrybridge Road, Castleford, Wakefield, WF10 4JQ
HeadteacherWesley Bush
Local AuthorityWakefield
Number of Pupils1,477
Free School Meals (FSM)27.6%
School Capacity1,477 / 1,500 (98% full)

The full report on this school

What 150 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Jan 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 18 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Science LabsAstro TurfSixth Form CentreSports HallTheatreLibraryTennis CourtsMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

TennisFootballRugbyBasketballSwimmingMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghGardeningDebateChoirOrchestraScience ClubFilm ClubModel United NationsCoding

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:00

After-school care

15:00-16:00

Source: castlefordacademy.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Castleford Academy

Castleford Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.