Ark Carleton High School, Pontefract

In its own words: "We treat others how we would like to be treated, showing kindness and good manners. We are honest, demonstrate good morals and do the right thing even when no one is watching. We are responsible for the choices we make and believe that taking responsibility for our actions wins the day. We learn from our mistakes, move forward and improve."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our purpose is simple: to improve the life chances of every young person in our care. Students are at the heart of everything we do and are our greatest source of pride. We believe that every child, regardless of their background, circumstances, or starting point, deserves the opportunity to succeed, flourish, and achieve their full potential."

In 2025, pupils at Ark Carleton High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.3 in Wakefield and 46.8 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Wakefield and 46% in England.

That is in line with 2024, when the score was 47.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.12: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2025.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 35.7, against 52.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Engineering.

For September 2026 entry, 251 families put Ark Carleton High School as their first choice and 470 named it as one of their preferences, for 199 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 52 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

First-choice demand has risen from 169 in 2021 to 251 in 2026, while places went from 171 to 199.

Across Wakefield, 91% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 97% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2025, families in Wakefield lodged 123 appeals against secondary school offers; 104 reached a hearing and 30 succeeded (28.8% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ark Carleton High School are Ark the King's School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.9); The Featherstone Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy (2.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.7); and De Lacy Academy (3.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 45.6).

Ark Carleton High School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Ark Carleton High School is one of 48 schools run by ARK Schools, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.6 in 2023/24, with a Progress 8 score of 0.19 (zero is the national average).

97 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ark Carleton High School (as of September 2025): 79% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 54% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (54%).

Of the 202 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2022/23, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

29.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 2.5% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 138 pupils (13.5%) received SEN support and 30 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 15.6% and 3.9% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Ark Carleton High School employed 57 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 18 pupils. Their average salary was £44,506.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £7,028 per pupil (£7.6 million in total), including £297,775 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Pontefract Baghill Rail Station, about 1 miles away.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Community High School, 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark Carleton High School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 99 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is close to the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (127).

In 2023/24, Ark Carleton High School issued 144 suspensions, 14.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 2.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Ark Carleton High School are Ark the Rookeries Carleton Primary School (0.2 miles), Ark Carleton Park Primary School (0.5 miles), Ark Larks Hill Primary School (0.8 miles) and Ark De Lacy Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.