SchoolScoresKettlethorpe High School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Kettlethorpe Hall Drive, Standbridge Lane, Sandal, Wakefield, WF2 7EL
01924 251605 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 September 2011.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 June 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 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 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 71% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 43% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 72% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 16% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 61% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 3% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 23% | 36% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 12 parents who had raised a concern 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 8% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 56% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%said yes | 63% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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
315 pupils in this year group.
47% — 2 points above the Wakefield average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47% | 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. | 46.9 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 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.
320 pupils in this year group.
93% — 4 points above the Wakefield average, and about the same as 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. | 93% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 39% | 28% | 13% |
| Further education college | 43% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 93% |
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 287 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 224 |
| Of those, offered a place | 224 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 473 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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
| Pupils | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 15th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.2% | 29.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 15th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 4.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 17th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 14.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.1% | 10.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 16th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 11% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5% | 9.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 28% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 27.9% | 26.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 61.8 | 46.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0% | 10.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded12 pupils | 0.72% | 0.35% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 15th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 56% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1 | 18.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 7th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9 | 12.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 84% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 21.4% | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Trinity Academy Cathedral 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- Horbury Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 3 expected, 1 needs attention · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
- CAPA College 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B+ average A level grade
- Queen Elizabeths School Wakefield 2.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 48% A*/A at A level
- Crofton Academy 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Kettlethorpe High School's Ofsted rating?
Kettlethorpe High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 September 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 June 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Kettlethorpe High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Kettlethorpe High School?
86% of the 43 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Kettlethorpe High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Kettlethorpe High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 224 families put Kettlethorpe High School as their first choice for 287 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 224 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 108271.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 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.