The King's School
99%
Capacity
1,038
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About The King's School
The King's School sits within the Wakefield local authority, a secondary state school for mixed pupils aged 11 to 16. In the most recent local rankings, it placed 8th out of 18 schools of its type, placing it in the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in the area are Castleford Academy, Trinity Academy Cathedral, and Horbury Academy, each with higher ranking scores. The school is led by headteacher Marie Evans and has a capacity of 1,050 pupils, currently home to 1,038 students. A quarter of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure that reflects the broader demographic of the area. The school does not have a sixth form or nursery provision, and it is not a boarding school. Its religious character is listed as 'does not apply', making it a secular option for families in Wakefield.
Academically, The King's School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a grade it has maintained across both its 2017 and 2022 inspections. The inspection breakdown shows Good marks across all categories: quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. In terms of exam outcomes, the school's Progress 8 score is 0.1, which is above the local authority average of 0. This means pupils here make slightly more progress than the typical student in Wakefield. The Attainment 8 score stands at 49, and 56.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 4.5, with 67.6% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. Maths progress is notably strong at 0.3, while English progress is close to the national average at 0.01.
The school is well equipped with a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, even though it does not run a sixth form itself. Sports on offer include rugby, rowing, martial arts, and netball, while clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to gardening and a newspaper. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 526 applications for 202 places, with 220 first-preference applications and a ratio of 2.6 applicants per place. Its SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. This school suits families looking for a well-resourced, Good-rated secondary with solid academic progress and a strong extracurricular offer, particularly those who value a secular environment and do not need a sixth form on site.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Mill Hill Lane, Pontefract, Wakefield, WF8 4JF |
| Headteacher | Marie Evans |
| Local Authority | Wakefield |
| Number of Pupils | 1,038 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,038 / 1,050 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 27 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.10)
1304th of 3,141
Nationally
115th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
8th 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
2022/2355%
of GCSE leavers move to sixth form college (cohort: 201 pupils).
- Sixth form college55%
- FE college26%
- Not sustained7%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship4%
92% 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed202
526
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
220 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:25 – 14:35
Source: kings.patrust.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.6%
- Mixed2.8%
- White (other)1.9%
- Asian1.2%
- 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
2024/25Half 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.
10
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 The King's 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
Mill Hill Lane, Pontefract
Wakefield, WF8 4JF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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