SchoolScoresArk Carleton High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of ARK SCHOOLS
Green Lane, Carleton, Pontefract, WF8 3NW
01977 781555 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 25 January 2017.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
Category of concern: Special measures.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Outcomes for pupils | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Inadequate |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 6 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
97 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Wakefield comparisons use the 7 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 13 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 53% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 71% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 52% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 72% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 70% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 61% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 32 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 34% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 36% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 73 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 51% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 56% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 31 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 55% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 51% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 48% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79%said yes | 63% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Wakefield figures pool parents at the Wakefield schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
196 pupils in this year group.
46% — about the same as the Wakefield average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 47.5 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
202 pupils in this year group.
85% — 4 points below the Wakefield average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 85% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 2% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 42% | 28% | 13% |
| Further education college | 33% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 85% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Wakefield. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 199 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 251 |
| Of those, offered a place | 199 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 470 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.3
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 20 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 30.1% | 29.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.9% | 4.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5% | 14.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 9% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 10.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 70% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.2% | 9.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 75% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 18.1% | 26.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 33.5 | 46.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 60% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 10.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.20% | 0.35% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 94% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 20.0 | 18.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 76% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0 | 12.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 82% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 20.4% | 14.5%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Ark the King's School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- New College Pontefract 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- The Featherstone Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ackworth School 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 19% A*/A at A level
- St Wilfrid's Catholic High School and Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ark Carleton High School's Ofsted rating?
Ark Carleton High School was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 January 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 6 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did Ark Carleton High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 46% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Ark Carleton High School?
79% of the 97 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Ark Carleton High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ark Carleton High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 251 families put Ark Carleton High School as their first choice for 199 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 199 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139501.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.