Airedale Academy, Castleford

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our Trust vision of "Working Together to Achieve Excellence for All" sits at the heart of everything we do. It is far more than a statement on a page; it is a commitment that is evident in the experiences and opportunities we provide for our pupils, staff, families and wider community every day."

In 2026, pupils at Airedale Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Wakefield and 47 across England.

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Wakefield and 47% in England.

That is up from 33.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.72: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33.6, against 45 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 18 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 144 families put Airedale Academy as their first choice and 205 named it as one of their preferences, for 155 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Airedale Academy are Castleford Academy (1.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 46.8); Ark The King's School (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.8); St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.1); and De Lacy Academy (3.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 45).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Airedale Academy.

Airedale Academy is one of 9 schools run by Castleford Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 158 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 12 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 33% went on to university or other higher education, 25% to apprenticeships and 17% into work.

51.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 220 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 47 (4.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Airedale Academy has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 20 places, 2 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Glasshoughton Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Airedale Academy, 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 200 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (130), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Airedale Academy issued 1129 suspensions, 106.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Airedale Academy are Airedale Junior Academy (0.2 miles); Townville Academy (0.2 miles); Airedale Infant Academy (0.2 miles); and Fairburn View Primary School, Castleford (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.