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The Featherstone Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

The Featherstone Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Pontefract, Wakefield , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 524 pupils, and a capacity of 600 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby secondary schools below.

11-16

Age range

524

Pupils

600

Capacity

87%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2017

The Featherstone Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Featherstone Academy?

The catchment area for The Featherstone Academy is the geographic zone Wakefield uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Wakefield publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, The Featherstone Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Wakefield. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Wakefield before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Wakefield catchment area documents →

The Featherstone Academy: 600 places, 87% filled: places available

The Featherstone Academy has a published admission number of 600 places. 524 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 87%. At 87% full, the school currently has headroom below its 600 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 40.3% of pupils at The Featherstone Academy are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Pontefract.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Wakefield publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Wakefield school admissions →

The Featherstone Academy: School Information

Full address
Pontefract Road, Pontefract, WF7 5AJ
Local authority
Wakefield
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
40.3% of pupils
DfE URN
138593

Other Secondary Schools in Pontefract

If The Featherstone Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Pontefract are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Featherstone Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Featherstone Academy

What is the catchment area for The Featherstone Academy?

The catchment area for The Featherstone Academy is the geographic zone Wakefield uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Wakefield publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The Featherstone Academy oversubscribed?

The Featherstone Academy has a capacity of 600 places and currently has 524 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Wakefield.

What is the admissions policy for The Featherstone Academy?

Admission to The Featherstone Academy is managed by Wakefield. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does The Featherstone Academy cover?

The Featherstone Academy is a secondary school in Pontefract, Wakefield, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Featherstone Academy?

The Featherstone Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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