Woodkirk Academy, Wakefield

From the headteacher's welcome: "We work very hard to achieve our goals and believe that everybody should have an equal opportunity to a fantastic experience at school. The taught curriculum is broad; is academically ambitious; and embraces the arts, STEM and sport."

In 2026, pupils at Woodkirk Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.7 in Leeds and 47 across England.

58% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Leeds and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 52.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.15: 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 40.7, against 55.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 229 families put Woodkirk Academy as their first choice and 759 named it as one of their preferences, for 294 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 Woodkirk Academy are The Morley Academy (1.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.1); Bruntcliffe Academy (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.8); Upper Batley High School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.4); and Batley Grammar School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.5).

Woodkirk Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Woodkirk Academy is one of 5 schools run by Leodis Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 307 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 35% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 147 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 15% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

10.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (70%), Asian (12%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 113 pupils (6.4%) received SEN support and 22 (1.2%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Morley Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodkirk Academy, 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 88 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Leeds (229).

In 2024/25, Woodkirk Academy issued 164 suspensions, 9.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Woodkirk Academy are Westerton Primary Academy (0.5 miles), Blackgates Primary Academy (0.9 miles), Hill Top Primary Academy (1 mile) and Fountain Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.