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Horbury Academy

Wakefield, WF4 5HESecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2026
Progress 8
+0.32
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
225 1st-choice / 198 places
Ranking
#799
of 3,141 nationally

About Horbury Academy

Horbury Academy holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections. The most telling metric for this 11-16 mixed state secondary in Wakefield is its Progress 8 score of 0.32, which is classified as 'Above average' nationally. This means that pupils here typically achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points across England. To put that in sharper context, the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools in the Wakefield local authority is exactly zero, so Horbury is performing significantly above its local peers. That performance places it third out of 18 schools in the Wakefield area, and within the top 50 nationally when ranked by Progress 8. The school's Attainment 8 score sits at 48.9, and over half of its pupils (52.2%) achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths, a strong benchmark for secondary success.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressWakefield Road, Wakefield, Wakefield, WF4 5HE
HeadteacherNicola Walker
Local AuthorityWakefield
Number of Pupils1,075
Free School Meals (FSM)25.7%
School Capacity1,075 / 1,059 (102% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Oct 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 31 Dec 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
ICT SuiteTennis CourtsLibraryScience LabsMusic RoomsTheatreGymnasiumSports HallAstro TurfSwimming PoolPlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

SwimmingTennisGymnasticsFootballAthleticsCricketHockeyBadmintonRowingRounders

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghArt ClubOrchestraFilm ClubChess

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Horbury Academy

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