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OpenOfsted: School remains GoodURN 131526

High Well School

Community special school · Pontefract · WF8 2DD

Ages 9–16 · 104 pupils · Wakefield

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

2.9

Overall absence

43.9%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2022-11-22

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-1.82
−20+2
Attainment 82.9
English & maths grade 5+0%
English & maths grade 4+0%
EBacc entry0%

EBacc APS: 0.3

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
86.0
Avg scaled score — maths
83.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
89.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence43.9%
Persistent absence (10%+)78.2%
Unauthorised16.4%
Authorised absence
27.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
44.5%
Enrolments in measure
110

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill95%

104 pupils · 110 places

Pupils on roll
104
Boys / girls
94 / 10
School capacity
110
Capacity fill
104 / 110 (95%)
Free school meals
79.8%
FSM pupils
83
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 9–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community special school
Headteacher
Mr Mark Richardson

Location

Address
Rookhill Road
Postcode
WF8 2DD
Town
Pontefract
County
West Yorkshire
Local authority
Wakefield
District
Wakefield
Constituency
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
109 on roll / 110 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community special school, Ages 9–16, in Pontefract, Wakefield, 104 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: special school. Free school meals: 79.8%. SEN provision includes: SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health….

Open schools in Pontefract
46
Academies among open schools in Pontefract
70% (32)
Open schools in WF8
17
Open schools in Wakefield LA
158

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in PontefractNear WF8

  • De Lacy Primary School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Pontefract · WF8 2TG · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS277%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM47.8%
    • Demand1.00

    0.2 miles away

  • Harewood Centre Nursery School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Pontefract · WF8 2ER · Wakefield

    Ages 2–4

    • FSM0.0%

    0.4 miles away

  • Cherry Tree Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Pontefract · WF8 2HN · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS243%
    • Absence8.8%
    • FSM48.1%
    • Demand1.00

    0.4 miles away

  • Carleton High School

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Pontefract · WF8 3NW · Wakefield

    Ages 11–16

    • Att847.4
    • P80.1
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence7.7%

    0.8 miles away

  • St Giles C of E Academy

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Academy converter · Primary

    Pontefract · WF8 1HG · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS280%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM17.3%
    • Demand1.02

    1.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Mark Richardson
Telephone
01924572100
Website
www.highwellschool.org.uk

Official links