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Best primary schools in Wakefield

98 of 114 primary schools ranked by Met expected standard (RWM) · all Wakefield schools · secondary schools

Ranked on Met expected standard (RWM), 2024/25 — the most recent year each school has published. Official data, not our opinion — but the ranking is only as good as the measure, and a single number never describes a school.

84 of 114 rated Good or Outstanding
10 oversubscribed on first preference
10 Good or better and undersubscribed — the overlooked ones
Median Met expected standard (RWM): 64.0% (best 97.0%)

#	School	Met expected standard (RWM)	Ofsted	Places	Catchment
1	Larks Hill Junior and Infant School Pontefract	97.0%	Not judged	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
2	Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School Ossett	94.0%	Not judged	—	approximate
3	Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School Pontefract	93.0%	Not judged	about even 0.88 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
4	Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy Wakefield hidden gem	93.0%	Good	about even 0.87 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
5	Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School Wakefield	91.0%	Outstanding	oversubscribed 1.3 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
6	Jerry Clay Academy Wakefield	90.0%	Outstanding improving	oversubscribed 2.15 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
7	Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate Wakefield	90.0%	Outstanding improving	about even 0.95 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
8	Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School Pontefract	89.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.22 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
9	Carleton Park Junior and Infant School Pontefract	87.0%	Not judged	about even 1.13 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
10	Stanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy Wakefield	87.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.33 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
11	Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Wakefield hidden gem	87.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.82 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
12	Middlestown Primary Academy Wakefield hidden gem	86.0%	Good	about even 0.88 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
13	England Lane Academy Knottingley	85.0%	Outstanding improving	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
14	Rooks Nest Academy Wakefield	85.0%	Good	about even 0.95 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
15	Newton Hill Community School Wakefield hidden gem	84.0%	Good	about even 0.86 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
16	Simpson's Lane Academy Knottingley	84.0%	Not judged	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
17	Normanton Junior Academy Normanton	83.0%	Good	—	approximate
18	Northfield Primary School Pontefract	83.0%	Requires improvement	about even 1.02 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
19	Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane Pontefract	83.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
20	Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate Wakefield	81.0%	Not judged	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
21	Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School Pontefract	80.0%	Good	about even 0.97 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
22	De Lacy Primary School Pontefract	80.0%	Outstanding improving	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
23	St Ignatius Catholic Primary School Wakefield	79.0%	Good improving	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
24	Horbury Primary Academy Wakefield	78.0%	Good	about even 1.1 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
25	St Giles C of E Academy Pontefract	78.0%	Good	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
26	Grove Lea Primary School Pontefract	77.0%	Not judged	oversubscribed 1.27 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
27	St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Pontefract	77.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
28	The Vale Primary Academy Knottingley	76.0%	Not judged	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
29	Badsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School Pontefract	73.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
30	Normanton Common Primary Academy Normanton	73.0%	Good	about even 1.11 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
31	Ryhill Junior, Infant and Nursery School Wakefield	73.0%	Good	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
32	St Michael's CofE Academy Wakefield	73.0%	Good improving	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
33	The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School Pontefract	73.0%	Good	about even 0.94 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
34	West End Academy Pontefract	73.0%	Good	about even 0.95 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
35	Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane Wakefield	72.0%	Outstanding improving	about even 0.92 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
36	Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School Wakefield	71.0%	Good	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
37	Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy Pontefract	71.0%	Good	about even 1.1 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
38	Outwood Primary Academy Newstead Green Wakefield	71.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
39	Walton Primary Academy Wakefield	71.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
40	Crofton Junior School Wakefield	70.0%	Good declining	—	approximate
41	Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs Wakefield	69.0%	Good	about even 0.97 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
42	English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Wakefield	69.0%	Good improving	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
43	Ackworth Mill Dam School Pontefract	68.0%	Good	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
44	Sandal Magna Community Academy Wakefield	67.0%	Good improving	oversubscribed 1.47 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
45	Half Acres Primary Academy Castleford	65.0%	Not judged	undersubscribed 0.82 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
46	Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource Wakefield hidden gem	65.0%	Good	about even 0.86 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
47	South Hiendley Primary School Barnsley	65.0%	Good	about even 0.89 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
48	St Botolphs CE Academy Knottingley	65.0%	Not judged	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
49	Ackton Pastures Primary Academy Castleford	64.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.7 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
50	Crigglestone St James CofE Primary Academy Wakefield hidden gem	64.0%	Good improving	about even 0.89 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
51	Darrington Church of England Primary School Pontefract	64.0%	Not judged	oversubscribed 1.2 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
52	Sharlston Community School Wakefield	64.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
53	Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill Wakefield hidden gem	63.0%	Good	about even 0.85 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
54	Willow Green Academy Knottingley	63.0%	Good	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
55	Airedale Junior Academy Castleford	62.0%	Good	—	approximate
56	Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School Wakefield	62.0%	Good improving	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
57	Castleford Park Junior Academy Castleford	61.0%	Good improving	—	approximate
58	Gawthorpe Community Academy Ossett	60.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
59	Ossett Flushdyke Junior and Infant School Ossett	60.0%	Good declining	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
60	Ossett South Parade Primary Wakefield	60.0%	Good	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
61	Wakefield Pinders Primary (JIN) School Wakefield	60.0%	Good	about even 1.04 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
62	Wrenthorpe Academy Wakefield hidden gem	59.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.71 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
63	Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School Wakefield	58.0%	Good	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
64	St Helen's CE Primary School Pontefract	58.0%	Good improving	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
65	Outwood Primary Academy Greenhill Wakefield	57.0%	Not judged	oversubscribed 1.28 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
66	Wakefield St Marys Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Wakefield	57.0%	Good	about even 1.1 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
67	The Mount Junior Infant & Nursery School Wakefield	56.0%	Good	about even 0.92 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
68	St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe Pontefract	55.0%	Good	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
69	Ossett Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School Ossett	53.0%	Not judged declining	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
70	Wakefield Flanshaw Junior and Infant School Wakefield	53.0%	Requires improvement improving	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
71	Wakefield Lawefield Primary School Wakefield	53.0%	Good	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
72	Horbury St Peter's and Clifton CofE (VC) Primary School Wakefield	52.0%	Good	about even 0.92 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
73	St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Castleford Castleford	52.0%	Not judged	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
74	Hendal Primary School Wakefield	51.0%	Not judged	about even 0.89 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
75	South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School Pontefract	51.0%	Good improving	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
76	St Austin's Catholic Primary School Wakefield	51.0%	Good	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
77	Fitzwilliam Primary School Pontefract	50.0%	Not judged	about even 1.03 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
78	West Bretton Junior and Infant School Wakefield	50.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.5 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
79	Cherry Tree Academy Pontefract	49.0%	Requires improvement	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
80	Towngate Primary Academy Ossett	49.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
81	Wakefield Snapethorpe Primary School Wakefield	49.0%	Requires improvement declining	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
82	Ash Grove Primary Academy PONTEFRACT	48.0%	Good	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
83	St. John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Normanton	48.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
84	Wakefield St Johns Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School Wakefield	48.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
85	Upton Primary School Pontefract	47.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
86	Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School Pontefract	46.0%	Requires improvement declining	—	approximate
87	King's Meadow Academy Pontefract	45.0%	Not judged	about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
88	Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School Wakefield	45.0%	Not judged	undersubscribed 0.81 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
89	Oyster Park Primary Academy Castleford	43.0%	Requires improvement	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
90	Castleford Three Lane Ends Academy Castleford hidden gem	42.0%	Good improving	undersubscribed 0.76 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
91	Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School Pontefract	42.0%	Good	about even 0.95 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
92	Streethouse Junior, Infant and Nursery School Pontefract	40.0%	Requires improvement	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
93	Newlands Primary School Normanton	38.0%	Not judged	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
94	Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Pontefract	35.0%	Good	about even 0.95 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
95	Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource Pontefract hidden gem	35.0%	Good	about even 0.85 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
96	South Kirkby Academy Pontefract	32.0%	Good improving	—	approximate
97	Fairburn View Primary School, Castleford Castleford	30.0%	Good	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
98	Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Pontefract	30.0%	Good	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate

Also in Wakefield

16 further primary schools with no published Met expected standard (RWM) for the latest year — usually too small a cohort to report, newly opened, or a special school. Listed because leaving them out would make this a misleading picture of Wakefield, not a fairer one.

Airedale Infant Academy Ofsted: Good
Altofts Junior Academy Ofsted: Not judged
Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery Ofsted: Good
Crofton Infant School Ofsted: Good
Dimple Well Infant School and Nursery Ofsted: Good
Featherstone Girnhill Infant School Ofsted: Good
Featherstone Purston Infant School Ofsted: Good
Glasshoughton Infant Academy Ofsted: Good
Lee Brigg Infant and Nursery School Ofsted: Outstanding
Martin Frobisher Infant School Ofsted: Good
Normanton All Saints CofE Infant School Ofsted: Not judged
Smawthorne Henry Moore Academy Ofsted: Good
South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School Ofsted: Good
South Ossett Infant Academy Ofsted: Good
Townville Academy Ofsted: Requires improvement
Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School

Applying in Wakefield

Knowing which school is best is only half of it — these are the deadlines that decide whether you can apply at all.

Secondary application deadline 2026-10-31 · 2027 entry Secondary Common Application Form (CAF) deadline for September 2027 entry (Year 7). National statutory deadline 31 October 2026; apply via your home local authority. Selective/grammar registration, if any, is a separate earlier deadline.
Primary (Reception) application deadline 2027-01-15 · 2027 entry Primary (Reception) application deadline for September 2027 entry. National statutory deadline 15 January 2027; apply via your home local authority.
Secondary National Offer Day 2027-03-01 · 2027 entry Secondary National Offer Day for September 2027 entry — state school Year 7 place offers (1 March).
Primary National Offer Day 2027-04-16 · 2027 entry Primary National Offer Day for September 2027 entry — Reception place offers (16 April).
Secondary application deadline 2027-10-31 · 2028 entry Secondary Common Application Form (CAF) deadline for September 2028 entry (Year 7). National statutory deadline 31 October 2027; apply via your home local authority. Selective/grammar registration, if any, is a separate earlier deadline.
Primary (Reception) application deadline 2028-01-15 · 2028 entry Primary (Reception) application deadline for September 2028 entry. National statutory deadline 15 January 2028; apply via your home local authority.

Rankings compare published results. They do not tell you which school your child will get into — that depends on where you live, sibling and faith priority, and how many people apply this year. Ask below, or check the Wakefield admission criteria.

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