Ark Carleton High 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
A very warm welcome to Carleton High School, part of Pontefract Academies Trust. The purpose of our school is simple, to improve life chances for our young people. Students are the heartbeat of our school, they are our pride and joy.
Regardless of their background or starting points, each student has the right to aim and achieve high and it is our moral purpose to help them get there. As a parent myself, I whole heartedly understand what a parent or carers' dreams and wishes are for their child's education. A school where they will be safe, will excel, will be loved and pushed beyond their potential.
I can confidently say Carleton High is that school. Carleton High School has been on a fantastic journey, and was given the outcome of 'Good Improving' at its latest Ofsted ungraded inspection in November 2024, reflecting that the school continues to improve significantly across all areas since the previous inspection when it was rated 'Good' overall.
We are firmly on track to becoming 'Outstanding'. Year 11 2023-24 obtained the best results the school has ever achieved, and the progress our students made was in the top 25% of schools nationally.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
Key facts
- URN
- 139501
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Wilkins | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by GB/board | 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 |
| 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