Best Secondary Schools in Wakefield 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 18 schools across Wakefield. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Wakefield has 18 open secondary schools. Of the 18 with a published Ofsted inspection, 3 (17%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 83% 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, Trinity Academy Cathedral 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.

18
Total schools
3
Outstanding (historic grade)
17%
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
🥇 Trinity Academy Cathedral
Secondary
 Outstanding 71 View school
🥈 De Lacy Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 67 View school
🥉 Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
4. The King's School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
5. Horbury Academy
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
6. Carleton High School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
7. Outwood Grange Academy
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
8. Kettlethorpe High School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
9. St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
10. Crofton Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
11. St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
12. The Featherstone Academy
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
13. Minsthorpe Community College
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
14. Outwood Academy City Fields
Secondary
 Good 51 View school
15. Castleford Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 48 View school
16. Outwood Academy Freeston
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 43 View school
17. Outwood Academy Hemsworth
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 39 View school
18. Airedale Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 35 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 All schools in WakefieldPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in WakefieldReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in BarnsleyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LeedsCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KirkleesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DoncasterCompare neighbouring authority

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Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Wakefield?
There are 18 open secondary schools in Wakefield (closed schools are excluded). 3 of the 18 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 secondary schools in Wakefield?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Wakefield is Trinity Academy Cathedral. The full ranked table above lists the top 18 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.