News

Earlier this week, six Year 5 pupils from Halfpenny Lane School showcased their entrepreneurial skills in the Build a Business Challenge, an initiative to fundraise for the Prince of Wales… Read more

We are proud to announce that Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant and Nursery School have achieved the Eco Green Flag status with Distinction. This achievement is testament to the hard work… Read more

Miss Hetherington, Teaching Assistant at Halfpenny Lane School, has been crowned Woman of Steel at the 2024 Rugby League Awards. This award follows a fantastic season for Georgie after winning… Read more

A Pontefract Academies Trust school in Pontefract has been told it “might be outstanding” following an ungraded inspection from Ofsted. Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant and Nursery School was visited by… Read more

In the heart of Pontefract, a group of nine schools are making waves in the education sector. Pontefract Academies Trust, comprising of seven primary schools and two secondary schools, was… Read more

Carleton High School, part of Pontefract Academies Trust, has today, Thursday 22nd December revealed the plans for the replacement of its school’s multiple teaching blocks with an entirely new 3-story… Read more

On Saturday 17th December, our fabulous Pontefract Academies Trust choir put on their first-ever performance at Wakefield Cathedral with the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir. A big thank you to the students… Read more

Chosen by 13 pupils from across six primary schools, Cartner’s No.5 new bar on Shoemarket in the town has scooped first place. More than 50 businesses entered the competition and… Read more

Over the next two weeks, pupils in all of our primary schools will be visited by representatives from The Prince of Wales Hospice. They will gain an understanding of what happens… Read more

Lucy Farrar, a Year 11 student at The King’s School, part of Pontefract Academies Trust, has beaten 100’s of other applicants to become a National Advocate for The Girl Guides.… Read more

On Friday 18th November, we celebrated Children in Need across all eight of our schools. Staff and students raised money with various activities including bun sales, toy sales, sponge the… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust is delighted to announce that they have invested a substantial amount of money into outdoor learning facilities for De Lacy Pontefract Primary School. Children and staff are… Read more

After only 5 years of playing Badminton competitively, Eva Hursthouse, a 14-year-old student at Carleton High School, part of Pontefract Academies Trust, has been chosen to represent Yorkshire in the… Read more

Pupils and staff from Orchard Head Junior, Infant and Nursery School held a fundraising event to raise money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease Association. The school community have walked… Read more

Wakefield Music Education Hub has secured funding to run a new project called Vocalise at The Rookeries Junior, Infant & Nursery School in Pontefract. The project provides an opportunity for… Read more

George, a 9-year-old from Carleton Park Junior & Infant School part of Pontefract Academies Trust, has been awarded a “Mayor says thanks” recognition award for fundraising over £1,750 for children’s… Read more

Carleton High School and The King’s School, both a part of Pontefract Academies Trust have achieved incredible performance in their 2021/22 GCSE Examinations, as verified by The Department for Education… Read more

The initiative, led by the Mental Health Foundation and recognised by the World Health Organisation, is held every year on the 10th October. The theme for the day changes each… Read more

Orchard Head Junior, Infant and Nursery School are holding a fundraising event to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association starting in the week commencing the 10th of October. Most of… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust are delighted to announce that Carleton High School and The King’s School will be opening their doors to prospective students and parents for their annual Open Evening.… Read more

The King’s School and Carleton High School, both members of Pontefract Academies Trust, are celebrating GCSE success today. Eight students from Carleton High School achieved an incredible set of results… Read more

Message from Julian Appleyard OBE, CEO: A huge congratulations to the incredible 10 & 11 year olds across the primary schools within Pontefract Academies Trust. 81% of our pupils have… Read more

Over 1,000 parents, carers, students and community members turned out in the sunshine to support The King’s School’s annual event King’s Fest! It was an incredible evening showcasing talent of… Read more

10-year-old Macy, 7-year-old Maya, and 3-year-old Jackson Burrow were amazed and excited when they won the Young Achiever Award at the Yorkshire Choice Awards held at Elland Road. The three… Read more

Pupils at Pontefract Academies Trust primary schools have been given an important task this week. They have been given the challenge of naming the brand new mascots from The Prince… Read more

Francesca Scholes, a Year 7 student at Carleton High School, part of Pontefract Academies Trust, has landed a role in The Nothern Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand… Read more

Nicola Minichiello, leading member of the Great Britain Bobsleigh team from 2001-2011 and Rachael Mackenzie, World Thai-Boxing champion visited all six primary schools in Pontefract Academies Trust this week to… Read more

Pupils from 6 primary schools in Pontefract, all part of Pontefract Academies Trust, were invited to a special awards ceremony at the Mayor’s office on Thursday to celebrate the incredible… Read more

Both of our secondary schools were delighted to welcome Mr Brian Berry MA from the Ackworth and Pontefract branch of The Royal British Legion along with other ex-veterans. They gave… Read more

Every year, all eight of our schools find fun ways to raise money for Children in Need. Whether it’s baking, running races, raffles and much more. The Rookeries Junior, Infant… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust has announced that for this academic year their eight schools as well as the central office, will be fundraising for The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract.… Read more

All eight schools who are part of Pontefract Academies Trust have received the totals that they have collectively raised for The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract and Motor Neurone… Read more

Staff including teachers, lunchtime supervisors and housekeepers across the eight schools in Pontefract Academies Trust have each endured at least 92 seconds of ice cold water on their feet to… Read more

The King’s School and Carleton High School, both members of Pontefract Academies Trust, are celebrating GCSE success today. Two students from The King’s School achieved an incredible set of results… Read more

All eight schools who are part of Pontefract Academies Trust have had a busy few days packed full of fundraising activities to raise money for both The Prince of Wales… Read more

Together the 3,900 pupils and over 300 staff members of Pontefract Academies Trust collected 315kg of food which has been donated to Pontefract Food Bank. The amount collected is enough… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust and Halfpenny Lane is delighted to welcome Hayley McNeill as Headteacher of Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant & Nursery School. Hayley brings with her 29 years of impressive… Read more

Wearing red, telling funny jokes and dressing up as their favourite superheroes are just some of the ways that the children at Pontefract Academies Trust schools plan to celebrate Red… Read more

Teachers, pupils and parents didn’t let lockdown stop them from celebrating this year’s World Book Day as they enjoyed an action packed agenda to enjoy their love of storytelling and… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust has been embracing Children’s Mental Health Week and encouraging all their students to find activities that help them feel good about themselves whether that be art, drama,… Read more

More than 500 teachers and staff from Pontefract Academies Trust are collecting tins of food and urgent items to donate to the Pontefract food bank. The Trust are pleased to… Read more

Two delighted siblings Daisy and Henry from Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant and Nursery School, which is part of Pontefract Academies Trust, have been awarded with their very own Blue Peter… Read more

Children from six schools in Pontefract have recorded themselves singing a Christmas song and message to be played as part of The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract, Light up… Read more

Primary school children from Pontefract Academies Trust have made around 200 poppies to be displayed opposite Valley Gardens in Pontefract Town Centre for all to come and see and mark… Read more

Around 3500 children in Pontefract put their best feet forward to take part in the Trust’s first Cross Country Challenge competition.  Each child raced against their individual class mates along… Read more

More than 400 children at Halfpenny Lane Primary school bounced into school last week with big smiles on their faces as they celebrated their non uniform day.  The special day… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust is delighted to announce that they have invested around £90,000 into outdoor learning facilities for Halfpenny Lane and The Rookeries Carleton Junior, Infant & Nursery School. Children… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust has been embracing Children’s Mental Health Week and encouraging all their students to find activities that help them feel good about themselves whether that be art, drama,… Read more

More than 500 teachers and staff from Pontefract Academies Trust are collecting tins of food and urgent items to donate to the Pontefract food bank.  The Trust are pleased to… Read more

Pontefract Academies Trust has been named in the top 10% of education trusts in the country in the Department for Education Performance Tables for primary schools, published last month. The… Read more

Halfpenny Lane has been ranked the 9th best primary school out of 100 in the Wakefield Local Authority for attainment in reading, writing and maths. To read an article published… Read more

The recent publication of the the Key Stage 2 SATs results is proving that the Trust is continuing to transform the quality of education for the young people of the… Read more

Staff and pupils at Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant & Nursery School are celebrating after an Ofsted inspection saw them receive a ‘good’ rating. Inspectors spent two days at Halfpenny Lane… Read more