De Lacy Academy

About De Lacy Academy

De Lacy Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.12 sits just below the Wakefield local authority average of 0, placing it 13th out of 18 secondary schools in the area. That puts it in the bottom half of the LA table, but the picture is more nuanced than a single number suggests. The school’s Ofsted rating is Outstanding, a grade held by only two of the 21 secondary schools in Wakefield, and its most recent inspection in 2022 awarded top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant improvement from its previous Good rating in 2017, and the jump to Outstanding suggests real momentum. For a school with 39.4 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals — well above the national average — these inspection results are striking and point to strong leadership under headteacher Richard Fieldhouse.

Academically, the data reveals a mixed but interesting profile. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 44.5 is respectable, and 62.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 38.8 per cent at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score of 3.78 is modest, and only 35.9 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. Where De Lacy really shines is in English: the Progress 8 score for English is +0.49, well above the national average and the strongest of any subject area. Maths, by contrast, is -0.53, and the EBacc element is -0.52, which drags the overall figure down. The open element — which includes non-EBacc subjects — is +0.15, suggesting pupils perform better in vocational or creative options. Nationally, the school ranks in the 57th percentile for Progress 8, placing it in the middle of the pack across England.

De Lacy Academy is a non-selective, mixed 11-16 school with no sixth form, so pupils move on after Year 11. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, there were 192 applications for 154 places, with 150 first-preference offers made. The school has a broad range of facilities including a theatre, music rooms, science labs, art studios, an astro turf pitch, and a chapel. Sports provision is strong, with football, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, and martial arts on offer, while clubs include Model UN, debate, choir, orchestra, and a newspaper group. SEND support covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. This is a school that suits families looking for an improving, well-led secondary with strong pastoral and creative provision, particularly for children who might benefit from a focus on English and the arts. The high free school meals rate and above-average SEND support suggest an inclusive, community-focused environment.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About De Lacy Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents