Airedale Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,008 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 33.8
Academy 16-19 converter
New College Pontefract
- Pupils on roll
- 0of 2,900 places
- Free school meals
- 0.0%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- —
- Ofsted
- Not covered by Ofsted school inspections
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: New College Pontefract (URN 130550, until 10 April 2017).
What the data says
New College Pontefract is a 16–19 provider, so there is no Year 11 cohort: this page covers where its students went after 16–18 study and what they achieved.
Among the 1,340 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 54% went to university (Wakefield 35%, England 37%), and 21% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
A level grades average B-, above the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Mathematics, Psychology and Law.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Wakefield and England.
The Department for Education has not published destination figures for this school (new school, small cohort or not a state-funded school).
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | New College Pontefract | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 1,340 | 3,906 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 91% | 80% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 54% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 21% | 14% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 9% | 7% |
| Employment | 24% | 30% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 17% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | New College Pontefract | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 2,746 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 978 | 1,538 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | B- | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 37.94 | 35.78 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 17% | 14% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 241 | 25% | 31% |
| Psychology | 203 | 21% | 23% |
| Law | 165 | 17% | 4% |
| Business Studies | 157 | 16% | 13% |
| Biology | 152 | 16% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 133 | 14% | 17% |
| Sociology | 121 | 12% | 13% |
| Geography | 105 | 11% | 10% |
| Physics | 103 | 11% | 12% |
| English Language | 100 | 10% | 4% |
| History | 99 | 10% | 13% |
| English Literature | 97 | 10% | 11% |
| Economics | 81 | 8% | 13% |
| Accounting/Finance | 70 | 7% | 1% |
| Photography | 68 | 7% | 3% |
| Graphic Communication | 62 | 6% | 2% |
| Computer Science | 57 | 6% | 5% |
| Fine Art | 57 | 6% | 3% |
| Textiles | 57 | 6% | 1% |
| Physical Education | 47 | 5% | 3% |
| Media Studies | 44 | 4% | 4% |
| Politics | 39 | 4% | 6% |
| English Language and Literature | 32 | 3% | 2% |
| Religious Studies | 29 | 3% | 4% |
| Film Studies | 28 | 3% | 2% |
| Further Mathematics | 23 | 2% | 5% |
| Geology | 18 | 2% | 0% |
| Spanish | 16 | 2% | 2% |
| French | 11 | 1% | 1% |
| Drama | 10 | 1% | 2% |
| Dance | 8 | 1% | 0% |
| Music | 6 | 1% | 0% |
| Russian | — | — | 0% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 138 | 14% | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 74 | 8% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 67 | 7% | — |
| Biology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 61 | 6% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 56 | 6% | — |
| Psychology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 53 | 5% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 51 | 5% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 49 | 5% | — |
| Multimedia | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 32 | 3% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 30 | 3% | — |
| Music performance: Group | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 28 | 3% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 27 | 3% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 25 | 3% | — |
| Sound Recording | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 25 | 3% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 23 | 2% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 23 | 2% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 22 | 2% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 21 | 2% | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | 15 | 2% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | 15 | 2% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 9 | 1% | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma at Level 3 | 7 | 1% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | 6 | 1% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 6 | 1% | — |
| Music performance: Group | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Wakefield
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Castleford Academy
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Crofton Academy
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De Lacy Academy
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Horbury Academy
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82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.7
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.