Most sought-after schools in Wakefield
Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.
This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.
This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.
| # | School | First preferences per place | Newest intake | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Jerry Clay Academy Wakefield, primary |
2.50 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 2 |
Sandal Magna Community Academy Wakefield, primary |
1.68 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 3 |
West Bretton Junior and Infant School Wakefield, primary |
1.60 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 4 |
Trinity Academy Cathedral Wakefield, secondary |
1.54 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
Darrington Church of England Primary School Pontefract, primary |
1.50 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 6 |
Grove Lea Primary School Pontefract, primary |
1.45 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School Pontefract, primary |
1.43 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 8 |
Carleton Park Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
1.37 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 9 |
St Giles C of E Academy Pontefract, primary |
1.34 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 10 |
Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy Pontefract, primary |
1.33 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 11 |
Ossett Flushdyke Junior and Infant School Ossett, primary |
1.33 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 12 |
Outwood Primary Academy Greenhill Wakefield, primary |
1.24 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 13 |
St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy Wakefield, secondary |
1.24 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 14 |
De Lacy Primary School Pontefract, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 15 |
Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy Wakefield, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 16 |
Newton Hill Community School Wakefield, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 17 |
Walton Primary Academy Wakefield, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 18 |
Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 20 |
Horbury Academy Wakefield, secondary |
1.14 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 21 |
St Botolphs CE Academy Knottingley, primary |
1.14 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 22 |
Castleford Academy Castleford, secondary |
1.13 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 23 |
Glasshoughton Infant Academy Castleford, primary |
1.12 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 24 |
Ackton Pastures Primary Academy Castleford, primary |
1.09 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 25 |
Carleton High School Pontefract, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 26 |
The King's School Pontefract, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 27 |
Minsthorpe Community College Pontefract, secondary |
1.08 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 28 |
Upton Primary School Pontefract, primary |
1.08 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 29 |
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs Wakefield, primary |
1.06 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 30 |
Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane Wakefield, primary |
1.05 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 31 |
Badsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 32 |
Middlestown Primary Academy Wakefield, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 33 |
Outwood Academy Freeston Normanton, secondary |
1.03 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 34 |
Willow Green Academy Knottingley, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 35 |
Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School Wakefield, primary |
1.02 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 36 |
Airedale Infant Academy Castleford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 37 |
Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School Wakefield, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 38 |
Dimple Well Infant School and Nursery Ossett, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 39 |
Fitzwilliam Primary School Pontefract, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 40 |
Gawthorpe Community Academy Ossett, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 41 |
Normanton Common Primary Academy Normanton, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 42 |
Ryhill Junior, Infant and Nursery School Wakefield, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 43 |
St Ignatius Catholic Primary School Wakefield, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Some aspects not as strong (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 44 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Castleford Castleford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 45 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Pontefract, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 46 |
St. John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Normanton, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 47 |
The Mount Junior Infant & Nursery School Wakefield, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 48 |
Wakefield Flanshaw Junior and Infant School Wakefield, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 49 |
Horbury St Peter's and Clifton CofE (VC) Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 50 |
Normanton All Saints CofE Infant School Normanton, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 51 |
Ossett Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School Ossett, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 52 |
Crigglestone St James CofE Primary Academy Wakefield, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 53 |
De Lacy Academy Knottingley, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 54 |
England Lane Academy Knottingley, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 55 |
Martin Frobisher Infant School Normanton, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 56 |
Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School Wakefield, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 57 |
Wakefield Snapethorpe Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
Crofton Infant School Wakefield, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 59 |
English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Wakefield, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 60 |
Newlands Primary School Normanton, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 61 |
The Featherstone Academy Pontefract, secondary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 62 |
The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 63 |
Wakefield Pinders Primary (JIN) School Wakefield, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 64 |
Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery Castleford, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 65 |
Horbury Primary Academy Wakefield, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 66 |
Sharlston Community School Wakefield, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 67 |
Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School Wakefield, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 68 |
South Hiendley Primary School Barnsley, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 69 |
St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy Pontefract, secondary |
0.95 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 70 |
Crofton Academy Wakefield, secondary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 71 |
Fairburn View Primary School, Castleford Castleford, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 72 |
Featherstone Purston Infant School Pontefract, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 73 |
Hendal Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 74 |
Lee Brigg Infant and Nursery School Normanton, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 75 |
Outwood Grange Academy Wakefield, secondary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 76 |
Outwood Primary Academy Newstead Green Wakefield, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 77 |
South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School Pontefract, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 78 |
South Ossett Infant Academy Ossett, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 79 |
Castleford Three Lane Ends Academy Castleford, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 80 |
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 81 |
Ossett South Parade Primary Wakefield, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 82 |
Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate Wakefield, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 83 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Pontefract, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 84 |
Towngate Primary Academy Ossett, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 85 |
Wakefield St Marys Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 86 |
Featherstone Girnhill Infant School Pontefract, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 87 |
Oyster Park Primary Academy Castleford, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 88 |
Rooks Nest Academy Wakefield, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 89 |
Simpson's Lane Academy Knottingley, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 90 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe Pontefract, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 91 |
Wakefield Lawefield Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 92 |
Wrenthorpe Academy Wakefield, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 93 |
Ackworth Mill Dam School Pontefract, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 94 |
The Vale Primary Academy Knottingley, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 95 |
Wakefield St Johns Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School Wakefield, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 96 |
West End Academy Pontefract, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 97 |
St Michael's CofE Academy Wakefield, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 98 |
Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane Pontefract, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 99 |
St Helen's CE Primary School Pontefract, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 100 |
King's Meadow Academy Pontefract, primary |
0.84 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 101 |
Kettlethorpe High School Wakefield, secondary |
0.82 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 102 |
Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College Ossett, secondary |
0.82 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 103 |
Ash Grove Primary Academy PONTEFRACT, primary |
0.81 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 104 |
Airedale Academy Castleford, secondary |
0.80 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 105 |
Half Acres Primary Academy Castleford, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 106 |
Larks Hill Junior and Infant School Pontefract, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 107 |
Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 108 |
Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource Wakefield, primary |
0.78 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 109 |
Outwood Academy Hemsworth Pontefract, secondary |
0.77 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 110 |
Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.77 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 111 |
St Austin's Catholic Primary School Wakefield, primary |
0.77 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 112 |
Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School Pontefract, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 113 |
Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource Pontefract, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 114 |
Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill Wakefield, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 115 |
Outwood Academy City Fields Wakefield, secondary |
0.70 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 116 |
Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate Wakefield, primary |
0.69 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 117 |
Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Pontefract, primary |
0.60 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 118 |
Cherry Tree Academy Pontefract, primary |
0.57 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 118 schools in Wakefield have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Wakefield · How we compare schools.