SchoolScoresSt Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Part of THE BISHOP KONSTANT CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Barnsley Road, Wakefield, WF2 6EQ
01924 303545 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 29 March 2023.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
148 pupils in this year group.
45% — 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 | 45% | 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. | 46.3 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 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.
149 pupils in this year group.
91% — 2 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. | 91% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 2% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 50% | 28% | 13% |
| Further education college | 36% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 91% |
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 | 137 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 201 |
| Of those, offered a place | 125 (62%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 448 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.5
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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 20 places for speech, language and communication needs; 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 12th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 26.7% | 29.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 4.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3% | 14.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 31.8% | 10.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 9.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.4% | 26.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 26.9 | 46.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 10.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.52% | 0.35% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 93% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 19.9 | 18.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.0 | 12.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 10% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 6.4% | 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
- Kettlethorpe High School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2022 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Trinity Academy Cathedral 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- CAPA College 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B+ average A level grade
- Outwood Academy City Fields 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Queen Elizabeths School Wakefield 2.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 48% A*/A at A level
- Crofton Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Horbury Academy 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 3 expected, 1 needs attention · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 March 2023.
How did St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Is St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 201 families put St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 137 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 125 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 138950.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.