New College Pontefract, Pontefract
New College Pontefract is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 19 in Pontefract, part of New Collaborative Learning Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
New College Pontefract in detail
New College Pontefract in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to New College Pontefract and thank you for your interest in the College. Choosing where to study after school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, and we’re delighted you’re considering joining our college community."
Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 17 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Wakefield
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
The trust
New College Pontefract is one of 9 schools run by New Collaborative Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 1321 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 50% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 27% into work. 21% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Pontefract Tanshelf Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Lane Portland Ave, 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 213 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 (130), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
B-
Average grade
37.9
Points per entry
B
Best 3 A-Levels
17%
Achieving AAB+
Average
Value added
978
A-Level students
91%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 14 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 1,321 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
21%
Top-third university
66%
Degree course
71%
Any L4+ destination
4%
Apprenticeships
Based on 1,257 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Latest from New College Pontefract
Y12 Parents’ Welcome Evening Slides 2026
24 Sep 2026
Careers Team Wins National Award for Excellence and Impact
2 Sep 2026
Results Day 2026 Photos
18 Aug 2026
New College Pontefract Students Celebrate Record-Breaking Results in 2026
13 Aug 2026
ENDURE CHALLENGE - Push limits. Raise hopes.
9 Jan 2026
Open Evening - Tuesday 25 November - 4:30pm-7:30pm
5 Nov 2025
From New College Pontefract's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with New College Pontefract
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 14 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Pontefract
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Pontefract
Across Wakefield council
Places available
4,300
Applications
3,912
Got 1st preference
90.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All secondary applications across Wakefield council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
Further education and skills inspection
Questions parents ask about New College Pontefract
What is New College Pontefract's Ofsted rating?
New College Pontefract was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for New College Pontefract?
No fixed boundary. When New College Pontefract is oversubscribed, Wakefield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to New College Pontefract?
Apply through Wakefield's coordinated admissions process, naming New College Pontefract on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near New College Pontefract?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 14 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 schools, same distance and years).
Where is New College Pontefract?
New College Pontefract is at Park Lane, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4QR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)