| Kettlethorpe High School | |
| Motto: | Labor Omnia Vincit (Work Conquers All) |
| Head: | Tudor Griffiths |
| Address: | Standbridge Lane |
| Location: | Sandal |
| Postcode: | WF2 7EL |
| County: | West Yorkshire |
| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 53.6467°N -1.498°W |
| Urn: | 108271 |
| Ofsted: | yes |
| Capacity: | 1,660 |
| Enrolment: | 1,646 |
| Lower Age: | 11 |
| Upper Age: | 16 |
Kettlethorpe High School (KHS) 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 in November 2023 had an enrolment of 1,646 pupils.[1]
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 by dropping it accidentally. While there were rumours of deliberate damage, a school investigation finding 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]
On 7 November 2023, Gareth Mellor was convicted for possession of indecent images of children.[5]
Gareth Mellor was formally the assistant headteacher at Kettlethorpe High School and the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school, 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.
Whilst Kettlethorpe High School is clear that no safeguarding concerns were raised about Gareth Mellor during his time at Kettlethorpe High School, students did raise concerns online about Gareth Mellor.[7] Some parents have alleged that safeguarding concerns raised, resulted in their children being placed in isolation as a result.[8]