Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
N/A
Capacity
N/A
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Heart of Yorkshire Education Group was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2017. The school now holds Good marks across all five inspected categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. However, the headline exam metric tells a more complicated story. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year stands at -0.75, which is well below average nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly three-quarters of a grade less per subject than students with similar starting points across England. The school ranks 18th out of 18 secondary schools in the Wakefield local authority on this measure, placing it at the very bottom of the LA table. Its Attainment 8 score is 35.2, and just 27.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths.
The school’s performance is particularly weak in English, where the Progress 8 score is -0.85, and in the open element of the curriculum, which sits at -0.96. Maths is relatively stronger at -0.49, though still below average. The EBacc average point score is 3.17, and only 12.3% of pupils entered the EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. By comparison, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0, meaning the school is performing well below its peers in Wakefield. The top-performing schools in the area, such as Castleford Academy and Trinity Academy Cathedral, have positive Progress 8 scores of 0.41 and 0.34 respectively. The school’s ranking in Yorkshire and the Humber is 279th out of 306 schools, and nationally it sits in the bottom 10% of all schools. These figures suggest that while the school has stabilised its Ofsted rating, academic outcomes remain a significant area for improvement.
The school serves a diverse cohort, with 38.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. It is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 252 applications for 145 places, with 155 first-preference applications and 141 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.74. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a sports hall, astro turf, swimming pool, gymnasium, science labs, and a sixth form centre, though the school does not have a formal sixth form. There is a wide range of clubs and sports, including Dance, Rugby, Rowing, Hockey, Drama, Choir, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision covers seven categories, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication needs, and Social, Emotional and Mental Health support. This school will suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and a supportive environment for pupils with additional needs, but who are aware that academic outcomes are currently below local and national averages.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 16 to 99 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Margaret Street, Wakefield, Wakefield, WF1 2DH |
| Headteacher | Samantha Wright |
| Local Authority | Wakefield |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.9% |
| School Capacity | 991 |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.75)
2889th of 3,141
Nationally
279th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
18th of 18
In Wakefield
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
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: 125 pupils).
- FE college78%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained5%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
94% 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.
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
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed145
252
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
155 families put this school as their 1st choice (62% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- Mixed3.0%
- White (other)2.8%
- Asian1.8%
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.
75% 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
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 Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
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
Margaret Street, Wakefield
Wakefield, WF1 2DH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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