Schools by area › Wakefield › Ark Carleton High School
Ark Carleton High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Green Lane, Carleton, Pontefract WF8 3NW · arkcarletonhigh.org.uk · 01977 781555
Overview
- Ofsted
- Improved significantly
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Wakefield 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,026
- 98% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 30.8%
- First language not English
- 2.4%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Ark Schools
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 251 families put the school first and 199 places were offered; 79% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 199 | 251 | 1.3▲ | 79% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 206 | 224 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 204 | 242 | 1.2▲ | 84% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 204 | 201 | 1 | 99% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 204 | 223 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.5, and 45.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wakefield it was 45.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ●45.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲67.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲44.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.21 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 1 | −0.1 |
| Sixth form college | 48.7 | +4.5 |
| Further education | 33.7 | +5 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.5 | −0.4 |
| Employment | 0.5 | −7.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.5 | −0.9 |
| Activity not captured | 4 | −1 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 6 November 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Ark Carleton High School was: Improved significantly.
- Outcome
- Improved significantly
- Inspected
- 5 Nov 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective - Nov 2018Monitoring visitEffective action
Jan 2017Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Effective Jan 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (97 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Replies
- 97
- 10% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 31 parents (32%) with SEND