Minsthorpe Community College, Pontefract

In its own words: "Welcome from the Principals Minsthorpe Community College is a very special place and between us we have more than 40 years' experience working here. When we became Joint Principals in April 2019, we wanted to bring to life the vision and values that we truly believe make this College and its community the amazing place that it is."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Minsthorpe Community College is a very special place, and it has been my privilege to be part of this community for many years. Throughout my time here, I have seen first-hand what makes Minsthorpe unique: the strength of our relationships, the ambition of our students, and the dedication of our staff, parents and governors."

In 2026, pupils at Minsthorpe Community College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Wakefield and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Wakefield and 47% in England.

That is up from 41.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.21: pupils made above 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 36.6, against 47.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 269 families put Minsthorpe Community College as their first choice and 312 named it as one of their preferences, for 279 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 Minsthorpe Community College are Outwood Academy Hemsworth (2.6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.5); Campsmount Academy (4.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.9); Outwood Academy Adwick (4.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.6); and Ridgewood School (6.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.8).

Minsthorpe Community College's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Minsthorpe Community College is run by its own single-school academy trust.

108 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Minsthorpe Community College (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).

Of the 286 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 88 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 32% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 9% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

33.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 520 pupils (32.3%) received SEN support and 69 (4.3%) 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.

Minsthorpe Community College has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs and moderate learning difficulties: 10 places, 7 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is South Elmsall Rail Station, about 830 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

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

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Minsthorpe Community College stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Minsthorpe Community College issued 528 suspensions, 33.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Minsthorpe Community College are Ash Grove Primary Academy (0.3 miles); Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource (0.6 miles); South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School (0.6 miles); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.