Kettlethorpe High School is a mainstream secondary school in Wakefield for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 205 of its 1,616 pupils (12.7%) were getting SEN support and 50 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,616 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Wakefield.
12.7% get SEN support
205 of 1,616 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
50 of 1,616 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health65
- Autism46
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia30
- Speech, language and communication26
- Physical disability17
- Moderate learning difficulty11
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,616 (places for 1,750)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Roisin Paul
- Free school meals
- 24.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Wakefield
- School reference (URN)
- 108271
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Wakefield council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, September 2011; school remains Good (June 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2011. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2022).
Contact and getting there
Kettlethorpe Hall Drive, Standbridge Lane, Wakefield, WF2 7EL
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Camphill Wakefield (Pennine Camphill Community Ltd) Independent · Ages 16–25 1.0 mile
- St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
- Hall Cliffe School Independent · Ages 8–17 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 2.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Hendal Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 21.2%, EHC plans 2% 0.4 miles
- Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 21.4%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.9 miles
- Crigglestone St James CofE Primary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 7.4%, EHC plans 1.7% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Wakefield SEND schools in Wakefield
Questions about Kettlethorpe High School
How many pupils at Kettlethorpe High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 205 of the 1,616 pupils (12.7%) were getting SEN support and 50 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Kettlethorpe High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (65 pupils), autism (46 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Kettlethorpe High School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Kettlethorpe High School?
Through Wakefield council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Kettlethorpe High School?
You can ask for Kettlethorpe High School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Kettlethorpe High School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is Kettlethorpe High School?
Kettlethorpe Hall Drive, Standbridge Lane, Wakefield, WF2 7EL, in Wakefield.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.