Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Wakefield 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 157 schools across Wakefield. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Wakefield has 157 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 151 with a published Ofsted inspection, 17 (11%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 87% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Lee Brigg Infant and Nursery School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Wakefield follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

157
Total schools
17
Outstanding (historic grade)
11%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
64.7%
Avg KS2 SATs
38.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Lee Brigg Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
2. Jerry Clay Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 88 View school
3. South Ossett Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 88 View school
4. Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
5. Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
6. Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 86 View school
7. Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
8. Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane
Primary
 Good 82 View school
9. Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
10. Normanton All Saints CofE Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 79 View school
11. Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
12. Larks Hill Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
13. Carleton Park Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
14. Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
15. Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
16. St Ignatius Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
17. Martin Frobisher Infant School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
18. De Lacy Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 74 View school
19. England Lane Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 74 View school
20. Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane
Primary
 Outstanding 74 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Wakefield

Best primary schools in WakefieldTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in WakefieldTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in WakefieldReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in WakefieldYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Wakefield?
There are 157 open primary & secondary schools in Wakefield (closed schools are excluded). 17 of the 151 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Wakefield?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Wakefield is Lee Brigg Infant and Nursery School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Wakefield?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Wakefield?
Primary and secondary applications in Wakefield are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Wakefield council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.