Outwood Grange Academy Review 2026: A large 11 to 18 academy where personal development stands out

Scale shapes the experience here. With an 11 to 18 age range and capacity for 2,200 pupils, Outwood Grange Academy operates more like a small institution than a typical secondary, with the routines, systems and leadership structures that come with that.

The most recent full inspection (1 and 2 May 2024) judged the academy Good overall, with Outstanding for personal development and Good across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.

Leadership has moved on since that inspection. The academy’s current principal is Toby Rutter, and the governance listing shows his ex officio role as headteacher or principal from 01 September 2025.

The day starts with a dedicated Personal Development and Growth slot before lessons begin, which signals the academy’s emphasis on habits, routines and personal formation alongside academic learning.

In a very large school, consistency matters. The published inspection picture is broadly positive: most pupils behave well and relationships with staff are constructive, with clear conduct expectations and a strong enrichment and personal development offer. A minority take longer to align with expectations, and corridors can feel busy at transition points, which is a practical reality of a large site with thousands of young people moving through it at pace.

The academy also positions itself as highly structured academically. Its curriculum language emphasises entitlement, planned learning journeys and a consistent approach to teaching and practice, with recap and recall woven into lessons. The implication for families is straightforward: students who respond well to routine, explicit expectations and regular retrieval practice usually find this style supportive, while those who need more flexibility can take longer to settle.

GCSE outcomes (England context)

On the FindMySchool GCSE measures, Outwood Grange Academy is ranked 1,532nd in England and 7th in Wakefield for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This reflects solid performance that sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

In the underlying GCSE indicators available, the academy’s Attainment 8 score is 49.4 and its Progress 8 score is -0.13, which indicates progress that is slightly below the England average benchmark used for that measure. EBacc entry and outcomes are an area the inspection narrative suggests is a current focus for improvement, which aligns with the academy’s stated intent to widen access to that subject mix.

For parents comparing options across Wakefield, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool are helpful for placing these numbers next to other nearby secondaries with similar intakes, rather than trying to interpret them in isolation.

A level outcomes (sixth form context)

At A level, the FindMySchool ranking places the sixth form 1,814th in England and 7th in Wakefield, which sits below England average in relative terms.

The grade distribution in the available A level measures shows approximately 0.9% A*, 9.4% A, 31.8% B, and 42.1% A* to B. Relative position matters as much as raw percentages here: the sixth form appears to be an improving option for students seeking a supportive route to Level 3 study, rather than a specialist high intensity results factory.

Outwood Grange Academy’s published curriculum rationale sets out a broad Key Stage 3 offer that includes English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, two modern foreign languages, and a practical and expressive arts range including technology subjects and performance areas.

The inspection evidence points to a coherent delivery model: lessons are structured around regular retrieval, clear explanation, and purposeful practice, with assessment used to identify and correct misconceptions quickly. That is a practical advantage in a large school because it reduces variability between classrooms. Where staffing changes have occurred, delivery has been less consistent in a small number of subjects, which is a normal pressure point for large secondaries and is worth probing on an open evening if a particular subject matters to your child.

Reading support is also described as systematic, with targeted identification and a structured phonics approach for those who need it, plus a newer emphasis on subject vocabulary. The implication is that students who arrive with weaker literacy can make rapid gains when they engage with the programme, which matters for success across the wider curriculum, not just English.

Where Students Go Next

For families thinking beyond Year 11, the sixth form offer is designed around progression to higher education, apprenticeships and employment routes, supported by guidance and careers activity.

Where published destination statistics are not presented as a single academy-wide annual figure on the main site, the most useful lens is the available leaver destination snapshot: in the most recent cohort shown, 59% progressed to university, 5% to apprenticeships, and 21% into employment. (Some destination categories can be suppressed or sit outside these headline lines, so the percentages may not sum to 100%.)

Oxbridge outcomes exist but are on a small scale in the available data, with two applications and one acceptance in the measurement period. In practice, that usually indicates individual high attainers are supported successfully, but the sixth form is not defined primarily by an Oxbridge pipeline.

Year 7 entry (September 2026)

Applications are coordinated through the local authority rather than directly to the academy. The Wakefield admissions policy for 2026 to 27 sets the secondary closing date as 31 October 2025, with offers released on 01 March 2026.

Outwood Grange Academy’s published admission number for Year 7 is 360.

Where the academy is oversubscribed, priority follows the standard pattern used across the relevant policy: looked after and previously looked after children first, then catchment area and siblings, and finally distance, using the local authority’s defined measurement method.

Because distance cut offs vary year to year, families who are relying on proximity should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance, then treat it as an indicator rather than a guarantee.

Sixth form entry (Year 12)

The sixth form entry threshold is clearly stated: students should have five passes, including English and mathematics, with passes defined as GCSE grades 9 to 4 (or equivalent Level 2 vocational passes). Subject specific thresholds can apply, and these are signposted within subject information.

The sixth form also advertises an open evening that typically runs in October each year, plus taster events aimed at Year 11 students after GCSE exams, which is useful for external applicants who want to test fit before committing.

Personal development is a defined strength here, and the most recent inspection judgement reflects that with an Outstanding grade in that category.

The pastoral model is reinforced by the structured start to the day and by student leadership roles and ambassador pathways highlighted in the academy’s published curriculum overview, including student ambassadors, anti bullying ambassadors, and mental wellbeing champions. This matters in practice because it creates multiple visible routes for students to contribute, which can be especially beneficial in a very large school where some young people need clear belonging structures.

Safeguarding is judged effective in the most recent inspection report, which is the baseline expectation parents should look for before considering any further strengths.

The enrichment offer is framed as a core part of academy life rather than an optional add on. At Key Stage 3, the academy promotes OGAT Masterclasses designed to stretch and challenge students, taught across the trust region, which is a more specific offer than a generic after school club list.

There is also a defined ladder of participation and recognition in the wider curriculum, including the Outwood Honours Programme, student voice activity, competitions and quizzing, and structured leadership roles such as mental wellbeing champions and anti bullying ambassadors. The implication is that students who like earning responsibility and building a portfolio of contribution will find clear pathways to do so.

Facilities are a practical strength. The sixth form facilities page references a newly built sports hall, a full size 3G all weather pitch, and an arts centre with drama suites plus music practice and performance spaces. This supports both participation and performance: sports provision for general fitness and fixtures, and performing arts provision that can sustain serious rehearsal work rather than only occasional events.

The published school day runs from 08:25 (Personal Development and Growth) to 14:50 (end of Period 5), totalling 32.5 hours across the week, with enrichment and extended learning available beyond the formal timetable.

As a secondary academy, Outwood Grange does not typically operate primary style wraparound care. Families who need structured after school supervision should check the current enrichment timetable and any supervised study provision, as these can meet similar needs for older students but vary by year group and term.

• A very large setting. Scale brings breadth of subjects, staff expertise and facilities, but it also means corridors and transitions can feel busy, and some students prefer a smaller environment with fewer moving parts.

• Behaviour consistency for a minority. Most pupils meet expectations, but a small proportion take longer to align with routines and conduct standards. Families with children who are easily distracted should ask how behaviour support works at classroom level as well as centrally.

• Parent communication expectations. Some parents expressed dissatisfaction with how concerns are handled, and the academy was asked to review its communication systems. It is sensible to ask what has changed since then and what response times look like.

• Sixth form results are below England average in relative ranking terms. The offer appears supportive and structured, but families prioritising a high performing A level specialist environment should compare local sixth forms carefully.

Outwood Grange Academy is a large, system-led 11 to 18 option with breadth, clear routines and an inspection profile that highlights personal development as a headline strength. It suits students who respond well to structure, who want plentiful extracurricular pathways, and who value a sixth form route that is supportive and guidance-led. For families, the main decision point is fit: the education can be strong, but the scale and pace of a very large school are not right for every child.