Ark the King's School, Pontefract

In its own words: "Our vision is to provide a first-class education to all students so that they make outstanding progress and get the chances in life they deserve. 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."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Principal, it is my very great privilege to welcome you to The King's School. The school has an incredibly long and rich history of which we are immensely proud. First established in 1139, it is one of the oldest schools in Yorkshire dating back to the reign of King Edward VI."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday, 8 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, pupils at Ark the King's School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.3 in Wakefield and 46.8 across England.

60% 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 49.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.1: pupils made about 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 35.5, against 53.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.6 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 188 families put Ark the King's School as their first choice and 487 named it as one of their preferences, for 207 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places, so in 2026 a family who put it first could expect an offer unless the school's other criteria ruled them out.

Demand has been fairly steady: 194 first choices in 2021, against 188 in 2026.

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 the King's School are Ark Carleton High School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.5); The Featherstone Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.7); and Airedale Academy (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 33.8).

Ark the King's School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Ark the King's 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).

Of the 206 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2022/23, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 23% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

24% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 5.7% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 122 pupils (11.8%) received SEN support and 28 (2.7%) 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 the King's School employed 57 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 18 pupils. Their average salary was £44,945.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £6,842 per pupil (£7.5 million in total), including £262,300 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Pontefract Tanshelf Rail Station, about 950 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mill Hill Lane Kings High School, 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark the King's 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 251 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.

In 2023/24, Ark the King's School issued 146 suspensions, 14.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 2.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ark the King's School are Ark Larks Hill Primary School (0.3 miles), St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract (0.4 miles), Ark Carleton Park Primary School (0.4 miles) and Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.