Ark The King's School
Academy converter secondary 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
As Headteacher, it is my very great privilege to welcome you to The King's School. The school has an incredibly long and rich history of which we are immensely proud. First established in 1139, it is one of the oldest schools in Yorkshire dating back to the reign of King Edward VI.
After almost nine centuries, the school stands as a beacon of excellence for our families and the communities we serve, providing an experience which celebrates our history whilst preparing young people for the future that awaits. We are also incredibly proud of our place in the community and our reputation for being more than just a secondary school.
Whilst we are deeply rooted in our tradition, we are ambitious and very much future focused for our young people. Our desire is that each child is able to flourish and achieve the best outcomes, fulfilling potential and making exceptional progress so that their future is one of choice and opportunity.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
6 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Basketball
- Drama
- Netball
- Rugby
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
Key facts
- URN
- 139500
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- Constituency
- Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2013
Governing body (7 current, 2 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Wilkins | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2024 · until 2028 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Lyndsay Harris | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2026 |
| Lorna Cornwell | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Ester Montaner | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Ms Carly Greatorex | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Alexis Sharp | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Shaheen Shariff | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2022 |
| Mr Ash Jacobs Former | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2026 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Louise Millard-Paton Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 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