If you contact your local school directly they will be able to tell you if you are within their catchment area, they will also be able to give you details of any open days or their policy for visiting the school.
You may also want to read the school’s most recent OFSTED report to help you make your decision. Here
You may visit and or apply for a place at any school, however the admissions policy will outline who has priority (children with a statement of educational special needs, those with siblings in the school and those within the catchment etc) See your chosen schools website for full details.
Start your planning with the Wakefield School holiday dates for 2024 / 2025 below.
For school holiday dates during 2025 / 2026 academic year – click here
For things to do in the school holidays – click here
You can download the PDF version here
For things to do in the school holidays – click here
You can download the PDF version here
Parents of children currently in Year 6 can apply for a High School place to start in September 2025.
The deadline for applying is 31st October 2024 and you can do so online HERE.
You can apply for up to 5 different schools into the Wakefield area, putting the schools in order of preference.
The following open days have been released so far by secondary schools in Wakefield.
State Schools
School | Date | Time |
Airedale Academy | Thursday, 3rd October 2024 | |
Carleton High School | Thursday, 26th September 2024 | |
Castleford Academy | Thursday, 26th September 2024 | |
Cathedral Academy | Wednesday, 18th September 2024 | |
Crofton Academy | Thursday, 26th September 2024 | |
De Lacy Academy | Tuesday 24th September 2024 | |
The Featherstone Academy | Wednesday 25th September 2024 | |
Horbury Academy | Thursday, 26th September 2024 | |
Kettlethorpe High School | Thursday, 3rd October 2024 | |
The King’s School | Thursday, 3rd October 2024 | |
Minsthorpe Community College | Thursday, 10th October 2024 | |
Ossett Academy | Tuesday 24th September 2024 | |
Outwood Academy City Fields | Tuesday, 8th October 2024 | |
Outwood Academy Freeston | Tuesday 24th September 2024 | |
Outwood Academy Hemsworth | Tuesday, 1st October 2024 | |
Outwood Grange Academy | Tuesday 24th September 2024 | |
St Thomas a Beckett Catholic School | Wednesday 25th September 2024 | |
St Wilfred’s Catholic High School | Thursday, 3rd October 2024 |
Independent Schools
School | Date | Time |
Ackworth School | 10th October 2024 | See website as pre-registration required |
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School | 12th October 2024 | 9am – 1pm |
Silcoates School | 28th September 2024 | 10am – midday |
Wakefield Girls’ High School | 12th October 2024 | 9am – 1pm |
Don’t worry we have put together a step by step process on what to do and I’ll be with you on this journey as we’ll be applying for my youngest too!
If your child was born between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021, you can apply for a full-time school place to start school in September 2025. You will receive a letter from Wakefield Council in Autumn 2024.
If you want to know about the potential number of children applying for each school, a really good document is the ‘School Organisation Plan’ produced by Wakefield Council and there’s lots of information on the Wakefield Council website here
I came across this when my son was 18 months old and went into a bit of a panic as I realised Mini Mumbler’s intake year was oversubscribed!! There was a note to say they were aware of this and were looking at actions to increase the number of places. Luckily, by the time the next school year came around they had a planning application in for an additional classroom!
Visiting Schools
I would highly recommend getting in contact with a few schools that you think you will put on the application form to go and view the school and speak with the teachers. We have listed the contact details all schools in Wakefield District here.
Write a list of questions to ask on your visit; is there wrap around care, are the meals cooked on the premises, what outdoor learning activities do the children take part in, are there music lessons were some of the questions we asked. And if you forgot to ask a question, do ring them back up!
Applications
You can apply in two ways; online and or by the paper application that you should have received through the post
Wakefield Council advise to apply online (here’s a quick link for you!)
Applying online
Remember only putting one school preference does not guarantee your child getting into that school. If they are oversubscribed and you haven’t put a 2nd or 3rd preference, then the local authority will decide the school.
Results
Results will be online at TBC April 2025. The link to login is available here. I couldn’t remember my password and have just done the automated ‘forgotten password’! It only took a couple of minutes to come through to my email
Appeal Process
If your school preference place is not confirmed you have the right to appeal. Your appeal should be received by TBC date. You can find the appeal form here and appeal hearings commence from TBC date onwards. There are further appeal documents on Wakefield Council website available here
Keep up to date with Wakefield Mumber
website, newsletter, facebook page, chat group, twitter, instagram
‘Success is a shared experience’
Academy: Waterton Academy Trust
Ofsted: GOOD March 2012
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 864 711
‘Enrichment beyond the classroom’
A Wakefield Local Authority Maintained School
Ofsted: GOOD June 2013
Extended School provision 7:30am – 6pm
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 303 500
‘Pride through learning-Challenging our community to succeed’
Ofsted: GOOD July 2015
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 303 645
‘We aim to foster in our children values and attitudes which will serve them well throughout their whole lives’
Ofsted: GOOD November 2012
Extended School provision 7am – 5:30pm
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 259 465
Ofsted: GOOD May 2013
Extended School provision 7:30am – 6pm
Nursery
Call: 01924 302810
‘We are proud of our thoughtful, well-rounded children and committed to a holistic approach to learning’
Ofsted: GOOD May 2014
Call: 01924 303 670
‘Learning for you, learning for life’
Ofsted: GOOD January 2013
Nursery 3-year olds
Call: 01924 303 520
Ofsted: GOOD March 2015
Extended School provision 7:30am – 6pm
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 302 820
‘Enjoy, Achieve and Aspire’
Ofsted: REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT January 2015
Call: 01924 274 873
‘The heart and future of the community’
Ofsted: REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT March 2015
Call: 01924 303 530
‘Working together, achieving more’
Ofsted: OUTSTANDING March 2013
Call: 01924 367 396
‘Our children are encouraged to explore, discover and question through a range of exciting learning opportunities both within and outside the classroom.’
Ofsted: GOOD September 2013
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 302 875
‘Ethic of Excellence’
Ofsted: GOOD July 2013
Nursery 3-4 year olds
Call: 01924 303630
‘They come this way only once so we should pave their pathways with quality experiences. Let everyone who journeys with us be happier and more fulfilled for having shared time with us.’
Ofsted: GOOD November 2011
Call: 01924 830 204