High Well School
Community special school in Pontefract (Wakefield).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Here at High Well School our core purpose is to develop our pupil's academic, social and emotional skills, so that each pupil leaves our setting ready and equipped for further education, employment or training and knows how to keep themselves safe as well as being able to contribute to society.
Pupils are encouraged to build their knowledge and skills around resilience which will help strengthen their character, helping them move forward to further shape their future.
Pupils at High Well School are offered a wide variety of opportunities that are specific to their needs and interests, with the support and commitment from our fantastic staff team who strive for excellent outcomes for our pupils. At High Well School, we are dedicated to supporting the social, emotional, and academic development of every child in our care.
Our mission is to create a safe, nurturing environment where pupils are encouraged to grow into respectful, reflective, and resilient individuals, ready to face the challenges of the wider world.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
4 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Cooking
- Sewing
- Swimming
- Trauma Informed Schools
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
Key facts
- URN
- 131526
- Type
- Community special school
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 9 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- Constituency
- Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2005
Governing body (8 current, 5 former)
Special schools governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Helen De Souza | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Gail Taylor Former | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gail Taylor | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
| Ms Kelly Burton | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Ms Nicola Kirkbride | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Mark Richardson | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Frances Elizabeth Gambles | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Evans Tettey Odjer | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Hayley Hesketh | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Mark Richardson Former | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Christopher Campbell Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Helen Mumby Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Andrew Booth Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record