The Featherstone Academy Review 2026: Ambition and Resilience in West Yorkshire

The Featherstone Academy is a secondary school for students aged 11 to 16, situated in the town of Featherstone near Pontefract. As a smaller school with a capacity of 600, it offers a distinct community feel compared to larger regional counterparts. The academy is a prominent member of the Resilience Multi Academy Trust (formerly part of the Rodillian Multi Academy Trust), an partnership that has been instrumental in the school's shift towards a culture of high expectations and "growth mindset."

The most recent official assessments confirm that the school maintains its trajectory of improvement, with the latest Ofsted inspection in March 2022 awarding a Good rating. Under the leadership of Principal Diana Townshend, who has been in post since January 2023, the school has focused on a structured environment where positive discipline and resilience are central to daily life.

The atmosphere at the academy is defined by its commitment to "Positive Discipline," a framework that provides students with clear boundaries and consistent rewards for effort and progress. This approach has transformed the school's culture, replacing historic challenges with a calm, purposeful environment for learning.

Students here benefit from an inclusive culture that feels unashamedly ambitious. The academy also hosts a Wakefield Local Authority specialist provision for students with autism, who are integrated into many aspects of school life with their peers. This on-site support enhances the school's warm and diverse ethos, where students are encouraged to take risks and view "intelligent failure" as a step toward success.

The school's performance data tells a story of steady progress. In the most recent measurement period, the academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 40.6, representing the grades achieved across eight core subjects including English and mathematics. The Progress 8 score of -0.33 indicates that while students are achieving solid grades, the school is working to narrow the gap in progress from their various primary starting points.

Ranked 2,364th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), the academy ranks 4th among the secondary schools in the Pontefract area. This position places it in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), making it a reliable and effective local choice for families.

The curriculum is designed to be imaginative and differentiated to suit a wide range of abilities. Teachers focus on developing a growth mindset, encouraging students to believe that intelligence can be developed through hard work and perseverance.

Academic rigour is maintained through a curriculum that emphasizes the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite of subjects. In 2024, nearly 20% of students achieved a Grade 5 or above in these challenging qualifications. The school also makes excellent use of the time at the end of the school day, providing targeted interventions that have significantly boosted examination results for Year 11 students.

Extracurricular life is a mandatory pillar of the school week, ensuring every student has exposure to activities outside the traditional classroom. This "Enrichment" period is built into the timetable, removing barriers to participation for students who might have transport or family commitments after school hours.

STEM: Innovation and Technology

The academy is particularly well-regarded for its STEM provision. Specific clubs like the Formula 24 Greenpower racing team allow students to build and race electric vehicles, providing hands-on engineering experience. The school also offers a range of technology-focused clubs and has invested in industry-standard equipment for its design and technology suites.

Other popular activities include rugby league, which reflects the town's local heritage, and the Debating Society. The school also organizes regular residential experiences designed specifically to build the resilience that its ethos promotes.

Pastoral care is a significant strength, with inspectors having previously awarded an Outstanding rating for personal development, behaviour, and welfare. The school operates a highly effective safeguarding culture where students report feeling safe and having trust in the staff to resolve any issues.

The house system provides a primary layer of support, ensuring that students are known individually by a dedicated team of staff. For students with additional needs, the school's SENCO and specialist autism provision provide tailored support that allows all students to flourish within the mainstream environment.

The Featherstone Academy is a popular choice and is currently oversubscribed. In the most recent cycle, the school received 247 applications for its 120 available Year 7 places, reflecting its strong reputation in the local community.

Admissions are coordinated by Wakefield Council, and the national closing date for applications is 31 October for September entry. Priority is given to looked-after children and those with exceptional medical or social needs, followed by siblings and those living closest to the school. Parents are encouraged to use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous intake trends.

The school day includes built-in time for enrichment, with sessions typically finishing later than traditional primary schools. While the academy itself does not offer on-site wraparound care like a primary school might, there are several local providers in Featherstone, such as the Safe 'n' Sound Day Nursery, that offer a "walking bus" service for before and after-school care. The school is conveniently located on Pontefract Road with good links to local bus routes.

• Tight Competition for Places: With a subscription proportion of 2.25, the school is significantly oversubscribed. Living within the immediate local area is often necessary to secure a place during the initial allocation round.
• Positive Discipline System: The school's behaviour policy is strict and highly structured. While this has been central to the school's improvement, it requires consistent support from parents to be successful.
• 11-16 Status: As the academy does not have its own sixth form, students will need to transition to local colleges or other school sixth forms at the age of 16. The school provides extensive support for this transition.

The Featherstone Academy is a resilient and community-focused school that has successfully raised aspirations in the local area. It offers a structured and supportive environment where students are pushed to achieve their best through hard work and a positive attitude toward challenge. Best suited to local families who want a smaller, inclusive secondary school with a clear focus on behaviour and personal development. The main hurdle is admission; once a place is secured, the educational experience is increasingly strong.