Ark Carleton Park Primary School, Pontefract

In its own words: "Our vision is to provide a first-class education to all young people so that they make outstanding progress and get the chances in life they deserve. At Carleton Park we pride ourselves on instilling bounce back ability within our pupils; we see challenges as opportunities to grow."

From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to Carleton Park Primary School. I am proud and honoured to be the principal of this wonderful school. At Carleton Park, we believe in fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential."

In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Ark Carleton Park Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (97% in reading, 97% in maths).

Year groups in primary schools are small, so a handful of pupils can move these figures by several points from one year to the next.

For September 2026 entry, 34 families put Ark Carleton Park Primary School as their first choice and 96 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

First-choice demand has risen from 27 in 2021 to 34 in 2026, while places went from 27 to 30.

Across Wakefield, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2025, families in Wakefield lodged 127 appeals against primary school offers; 79 reached a hearing and 11 succeeded (13.9% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Ark Carleton Park Primary School are Ark Larks Hill Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 100% reading, 97% maths); Ark the Rookeries Carleton Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract (0.7 miles, Good, 90% reading, 83% maths); and Ark De Lacy Primary School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 82% reading, 82% maths).

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

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

Across the trust's primary schools, 76% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2023/24.

32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ark Carleton Park Primary School (as of September 2025): 94% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

21.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 5.9% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 14 pupils (6.9%) received SEN support and 8 (3.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Ark Carleton Park Primary School employed 7 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 29 pupils. Their average salary was £43,824.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £5,290 per pupil (£1.2 million in total), including £60,600 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Pontefract Baghill Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away.

20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lyon Rd Sides Road, 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark Carleton Park Primary School stands in is among the 50% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 241 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (127), as is usual near a town centre.

Ark Carleton Park Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2023/24.

The secondary schools closest to Ark Carleton Park Primary School are Ark the King's School (0.4 miles), Ark Carleton High School (0.5 miles) and The Featherstone Academy (1.4 miles).