High Well School
Rookhill Road, Pontefract, WF8 2DDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
High Well School is a special school in Pontefract for ages 9 to 16. It is one of the 155 schools in Wakefield. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 3 May 2017, report published 1 June 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 22 September 2022
Preparing pupils for positive futures is at the heart of High Well School. Leaders ensure that staff have high expectations of all pupils. Pupils are taught well by dedicated and knowledgeable staff. They also benefit from the support of members of staff who help them learn to manage their behaviour. Pupils and staff get along well. All pupils who attend the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities and are supported with education, health and care (EHC) plans. Pupils learn an appropriate curriculum relevant to their needs. Staff have ambition for pupils. Books are an important part of school life. Pupils are taught effectively how to improve their reading. The 'preparing for positive futures' curriculum provides pupils with well-thought-out opportunities to learn about the world around them and how to keep safe. Most pupils who spoke to inspectors said that bullying is not an issue. If bullying were to happen, it is dealt with effectively by staff. Pupils also value having an adult in school who they can speak to if they have any concerns or are worried.
What the school should improve
- Some curriculum planning does not have the clarity and connections between subjects that details what knowledge is to be learned and when. This means some pupils are asked to apply content from another subject area that they have not yet been taught. Leaders should ensure wider curriculum planning clearly identifies the important knowledge pupils will learn and when, ensuring connections are made so that pupils can apply knowledge from one subject area to another.
- Many pupils do not have a secure knowledge of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds. In some lessons, pupils use derogatory language about people who are different to them. Leaders should ensure that teachers provide regular opportunities for pupils to develop an understanding of tolerance and respect for those who are different to them.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
15 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
104 pupils on roll, with places for 110
Schools near High Well School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Alternative Provision | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Oakfield Park School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| The Grange School | 4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Kingsland Primary School | 7 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Ivy Lane School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 9 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Richardson
- Phone
- 01924572100
- Address
- Rookhill Road, Pontefract, WF8 2DD
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- URN
- 131526
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.