Wingfield Academy Review 2026: High expectations, strong enrichment, improving trajectory

Wingfield Academy positions itself around three core values, Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, and the wider message is consistent, this is a school that wants students to work hard, participate widely, and leave with clear next steps. It is an 11 to 16 state secondary in north Rotherham, part of New Collaborative Learning Trust, with a sizeable cohort and a structured school day.

For families, the headline is a credible blend of ambition and support. The most recent formal inspection confirmed the academy continues to be Good, with safeguarding judged effective.

The tone is purposeful. The academy describes a culture of high expectations and a focus on student progress, while also placing clear emphasis on personal development and “trying new things” through enrichment.

Leadership has also shifted recently. The current headteacher is Miss Jordon O’Neill, shown across the academy website as Miss J O’Neill, with an appointment date recorded as 31 March 2025 within the academy’s governance listing. That matters because it points to a relatively fresh phase at the top, set against a longer improvement story in the background.

The site itself is part of the school’s identity. The academy describes a spacious setting with a horticulture centre, sports pitches, plus its own small lake and copse, which supports the claim that enrichment is not an add-on but something built into the environment and timetable.

On FindMySchool’s GCSE outcomes ranking (based on official data), Wingfield Academy is ranked 2,467th in England and 4th in Rotherham. This reflects solid performance, in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The underlying indicators suggest pupils generally make better than average progress from their starting points. Progress 8 is +0.42, which is a positive signal in a mixed-ability intake because it is designed to show improvement across a full range of subjects, not just the top end.

Attainment 8 is 48, giving a useful anchor for overall GCSE outcomes across the eight-slot basket. The EBacc average point score is 3.8, which aligns with the academy’s stated focus on strengthening literacy and, where appropriate, building confidence in languages.

A practical note for parents reading results is that Wingfield’s story is not only about the headline grades. The academy’s own narrative, and the most recent inspection evidence, places heavy weight on curriculum sequencing, recall of prior learning, and whole-school approaches to literacy and oracy, which are the building blocks that typically translate into stronger outcomes over time.

Curriculum intent is described clearly. At Key Stage 3, students study a broad set of academic, practical, and creative subjects, including English, maths, science, humanities, Spanish, performing arts, design and technology, and computing.

The most recent inspection evidence points to subject knowledge as a strength, with teachers checking understanding, addressing misconceptions, and helping students catch up quickly. English is described as text-rich with an emphasis on fluency and independent reading, while science is highlighted for effective recall routines that help students connect prior learning to new content.

A distinctive feature is the structured approach to aspiration and transitions. The academy’s curriculum policy describes a partnership with a higher education provider, including planned activity and campus experiences, beginning with Year 6 transition activity and continuing through Years 7 to 11 with age-appropriate focuses such as choices, student experience, careers, and study skills.

Where Students Go Next

As an 11 to 16 school, the main destination question is post-16 rather than university. The academy places strong emphasis on helping students understand pathways into further education, training, and the world of work, supported by a structured careers education, information, advice and guidance programme across Years 7 to 11.

For families, the practical implication is that Year 9 and Year 11 are likely to feel particularly guided, with support around option choices, careers insight, and the move into a suitable post-16 setting. Parents considering the school for a child who benefits from clear structure and explicit next-step planning will generally see this as a strength.

Wingfield Academy is a state school with no tuition fees. Admissions for Year 7 are coordinated through Rotherham local authority, with the national closing date for on-time applications for September 2026 entry set as 31 October 2025, and offers issued on 2 March 2026.

The published admission number is 200 for Year 7. The local authority booklet sets out that Wingfield is oversubscribed and allocates places using oversubscription criteria and a distance tie-break when required. It also identifies catchment area schools as Greasbrough, Redscope, Rockingham, and Roughwood, and lists Thorpe Hesley as an associated primary school.

Because demand can vary year to year, families who are considering the academy as a catchment-driven option should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their home-to-school distance, then compare it against the local authority’s most recent allocation information before relying on this as the default offer.

Open events and deadlines can change annually. If the academy website lists past open evenings, treat these as indicative of the usual seasonal pattern, and confirm the current schedule directly with the school or via the local authority admissions timeline.

Pastoral systems are closely linked to safeguarding and inclusion. The most recent inspection evidence describes pupils feeling safe and well cared for, with multiple routes to ask for help, plus confidence that bullying, where it occurs, is dealt with quickly. It also describes careful work around online safety and safety in the wider community.

Inclusion is a clear feature, supported by named internal spaces for additional support. The inspection text refers to onsite SEND and inclusion provision, including spaces known as The Beehive and The Hive, alongside detailed planning and adjustments for pupils with SEND.

One useful nuance for parents is that the inspection evidence also flags a communications challenge for a small minority of families who want more information to support their child effectively. It is not presented as a safeguarding concern, but it is relevant if your child benefits from very frequent home-school alignment.

Wingfield Academy’s enrichment offer is unusually specific for a mainstream 11 to 16. The inspection evidence highlights very high participation, supported by a recognition system described as a “pledges” approach, with examples spanning sport, performing arts, hair and beauty, computer science, aspiring authors, Latin, and science clubs, plus trips that include theatres, museums, and visits connected to higher education.

The academy also publishes a structured “Give it a Go” menu of societies. Examples include Code, Spanish Film, Keyboards, Serious about Science, STEM Club, Sugarcrafting, and textiles. On the sport side, lunchtime and after-school options include year-group football, girls’ netball fixtures, rugby for younger year groups, and fitness sessions.

The practical implication is that students who thrive when school offers a clear routine plus a wide range of supervised options will likely find plenty to get involved in. For quieter students, the existence of scheduled, staffed clubs can make social integration easier because it creates ready-made peer groups around shared interests rather than relying on informal friendship networks.

The academy publishes a detailed day structure. Gates open at 8:15am and are locked at 8:20am, with tutor time from 8:25am and Period 1 beginning at 8:50am. The core day ends at 2:55pm, with an additional Period 6 for Year 10 and Year 11 running 2:55pm to 3:55pm where applicable.

The site is described as having good road links, including access via major routes around the M1, A1(M), and M18, which is helpful for families travelling across north Rotherham or commuting from neighbouring areas.

Breakfast club and after-school activities are part of the academy’s wider offer, but session details can vary by year and staffing. Families who depend on wraparound should confirm the current arrangements directly with the academy.

• Admissions competitiveness. The local authority describes Wingfield as oversubscribed and notes use of oversubscription criteria with a distance tie-break when required. Families should treat proximity as an advantage rather than an assurance.

• Languages and EBacc depth. External review evidence points to the need for stronger consistency in whole-school learning strategies in some areas, plus a push to develop languages in greater breadth and depth to improve EBacc take-up over time. This matters for students who want a strongly academic, language-inclusive Key Stage 4 package.

• A structured timetable that can extend for older years. The additional Period 6 for Year 10 and Year 11 can be a real advantage for preparation, but it also means some weeks feel longer for students who already find the school day demanding.

• Home-school information flow. A small minority of parents have indicated they want more information from the academy. If your child benefits from tightly coordinated support, it is worth asking what your typical update cadence would look like.

Wingfield Academy is a structured, improvement-minded 11 to 16 where expectations and enrichment sit side by side. Results indicators show solid performance, with progress that is better than average, and the wider offer is unusually well-specified for clubs and societies.

Best suited to students who respond well to clear routines, explicit academic expectations, and a timetable that encourages regular participation beyond lessons, especially those who benefit from purposeful careers guidance and planned transition support.