Ark The Rookeries Carleton 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
I am honoured to be a part of this wonderful school community, dedicated to nurturing the minds and hearts of young learners. At The Rookeries, our mission is clear and resolute: to empower each and every child to FLOURISH academically and socially, enabling them to reach their full potential.
We believe that every child is a unique individual with their own set of talents and abilities waiting to be discovered and nurtured. Our talented and dedicated team of staff are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and inspiring learning environment where your child can thrive.
We place a strong emphasis on academic excellence, but we also understand that education is about more than results. We strive to foster the holistic development of our pupils, helping them become confident, compassionate, and responsible citizens.
We aim to ensure a pupil's time at The Rookeries is filled with growth and discovery, leading to success for every member of the community. Our partnership with the school community is vital in helping us achieve our shared goal of helping all pupils reach their full potential.
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)
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Sing UpRecognised award
Key facts
- URN
- 139504
- 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 (6 current, 1 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Joanna Kneafsey | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Hannah Norman | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Rebecca Caunce | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Sarah Keniwell | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Michelle Winter | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2024 |
| Mr David Dunn | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2023 |
| Mrs Lucy Hatton Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · 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