Kettlethorpe High School

Kettlethorpe High School is a mixed secondary school with specialist status for maths and computing in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It provides for children ages 11–16, with a comprehensive admissions policy, and as of April 2025^[update] had an enrolment of 1,686 pupils.^[1]

Kettlethorpe High School
Address
Standbridge Lane Sandal Wakefield , West Yorkshire , WF2 7EL England
Coordinates	53.6467°N 1.4980°W / 53.6467; -1.4980
Information
Type	Community school
Motto	Labor Omnia Vincit (Work Conquers All)
Established	1965 (1965)
Local authority	Wakefield
Department for Education URN	108271 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Head teacher	Rosin Paul
Staff	Around 150
Gender	Mixed
Age	11 to 16
Enrolment	1686 as of April 2025[update]
Capacity	1,660
Colour(s)	Yellow / Blue
Website	kettlethorpehigh.co.uk

Kettlethorpe High School Community Learning Centre; Main entrance in Kettlethorpe High School grounds.

Qur'an controversy

In February 2023, the school suspended four Year 10 pupils for causing minor damage to the pages of a personal copy of the Qur'an. While there were rumours of deliberate damage, a school investigation found there was no "malicious intent".^[2] The Free Speech Union wrote a letter demanding that West Yorkshire Police expunge the hate incident record against the four boys.^[3] The mother of one autistic boy said that he had stopped eating due to death threats, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressed concern at the police involvement in the matter. Humanists UK alleged that the school took severe disciplinary action because of religious pressure.^[4]

Gareth Mellor controversy

On 7 November 2023, former assistant headteacher and safeguarding lead Gareth Mellor was convicted for possession of indecent images of children.^[5] As safeguarding lead, part of his duties was to protect children at the school from sexual abuse.^[6]

Whilst Gareth Mellor admitted under interview to having searched the names of pupils at the school online, no evidence of sexual abuse of pupils at the school was found.

Kettlethorpe High School stated that no concerns were raised about Mellor during his tenure. Some parents and students have alleged that concerns were raised, which in some cases resulted in their children being placed in isolation.^[7][8]

Notable people

• Stuart Lancaster, England International Rugby Coach, was a PE teacher at the school.^[9]
• Claire Cooper, actress, starred in Hollyoaks.^[10]
• Chris Chester, ex-rugby league player for Halifax, Wigan Warriors, Hull F.C. and coach of Hull Kingston Rovers and Wakefield Trinity.^[11]
• Amy Garcia, BBC Look North newsreader.^[12]