Oakfield Park School

Oakfield Park School in Ackworth continues to demonstrate outstanding performance across various aspects of education and development. The school offers a welcoming environment where staff are highly skilled in understanding and meeting the individual needs of their pupils, many of whom have severe learning difficulties and disabilities. With a strong focus on communication skills from the moment students arrive, the school has implemented effective routines and support systems that enable pupils to feel happy and safe while achieving exceptional levels of academic and personal development.

Strengths

• Highly skilled staff who understand pupils' needs precisely.
• Superb behaviour management resulting in a calm environment.
• Effective communication skill development from the start.
• Outstanding educational quality with high expectations for pupils.
• Pupils are very well prepared for adult life and further education.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils ensure safety and support.

In 2024–25 pupils at Oakfield Park School attended 88.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 38.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Oakfield Park School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Oakfield Park School had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Oakfield Park School had 176 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Oakfield Park School received £27,772 and spent £27,576 for each of its 176 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £476,000 (£2,704 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Pontefract · Wakefield local authority: places and applications

What is Oakfield Park School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Oakfield Park School is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Oakfield Park School last inspected by Ofsted?

Oakfield Park School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Oakfield Park School have?

Oakfield Park School has 176 pupils on roll.

What age range does Oakfield Park School cover?

Oakfield Park School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Oakfield Park School?

Oakfield Park School is at Barnsley Road, Ackworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF7 7DT.