St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy, Pontefract
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St Wilfrid's excels at developing well-rounded young people through a rich personal development programme that extends beyond the classroom into the community. Pupils are encouraged to become confident, caring contributors to society through leadership roles, debate, and community service projects. The school combines strong academic support with excellent pastoral care, ensuring all pupils - including those facing challenges - receive the help they need to thrive.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development programme that includes community engagement projects, student leadership opportunities, and a range of extra-curricular activities
- Effective safeguarding culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils feel safe
- Strong pastoral support and attendance systems that help pupils succeed, including dedicated follow-up for vulnerable groups
- Thoughtfully designed curricula that build knowledge step by step across all subjects
- Inclusive environment where pupils with additional needs receive tailored support and feel part of the school community
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistency in how teachers check pupils' learning and use this information to design lessons across different subjects
- Variable application of support systems for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs
- Inconsistent adaptation of teaching based on information about individual pupils' needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, debating clubs, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, music opportunities, school council, residential trips to Lake District and France, work experience, careers fair
St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College is a well-led voluntary academy where pupils achieve at national average levels and benefit from a strong personal development programme woven throughout school life. The school places safeguarding and inclusion at the centre of its work, creating a welcoming community where all pupils feel valued.
At a Glance
23.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLCN - Speech, language and Communication, ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.3
Avg class size
61
Total classes
11 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
1,470 pupils
1,800 capacity
330 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Pontefract
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Pontefract
Admissions Demand - Wakefield
Places available
4,320
Applications
3,997
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
96.9%
Secondary admissions across Wakefield (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.034%
Overall absence
23.32402%
Persistent absence
1,432
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School
Ackton Pastures Primary Academy
Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School
St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy
Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School
Ackton Pastures Primary Academy
Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School
Smawthorne Henry Moore Academy
Featherstone Purston Infant School
Featherstone Girnhill Infant School
Half Acres Primary Academy
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract
Nearby Schools
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