Ark Orchard Head Primary School
Academy converter primary 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
It is with immense pleasure and pride that I extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of Orchard Head. Our website is designed to provide you with a glimpse into our vibrant and dynamic school community. We invite you to explore and learn more about our school, our journey, and our vision for the wonderful children of Orchard Head.
We are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow, flourish and succeed. Our dedicated team of staff strive to provide a wide range of learning opportunities that spark curiosity and inspire confidence in our students.
We believe in creating an environment where children are not just academically successful but are also safe, happy, and excited about learning. It is our mission to make a positive contribution to the lives of others, both within and beyond our school walls.
We are honoured to be a part of the Pontefract Academies Trust, an organisation with a strong reputation for transforming schools. This partnership strengthens our resolve to deliver the best possible education to our students and ensure their success in the future.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
2 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support)
- Read Write Inc (RWI)
Key facts
- URN
- 139503
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- Has 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, 0 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexis Sharp | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Rachel Tate | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Jonathan Shuttleworth | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Kieron O'Toole | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 |
| Mrs Kara Adams | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 |
| Mr Robert Hollings | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Ian Shuttleworth | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2022 |
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