Ark Larks Hill Primary School
Pontefract, WF8 4RJ · Wakefield · primary school
Check the area around this school
1st of 98 primary schools in Wakefield we can score, 113 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 10.0/10 against 2,886 of them, against 10.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 97.0 · 100 | 62% | 6.12 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 53.0 · 100 | 38% | 3.85 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ark Larks Hill Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 97.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 53.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (10.0 out of 10 either way).
Getting in
The published school roll is 203 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
With 7 places currently available, how does the school manage waiting lists for specific entry years? How do you support pupils who do not reach the higher standard in their core subjects? What does a typical day look like for children attending the breakfast and after-school clubs?
What Ofsted said about Ark Larks Hill Primary School
Overview
Larks Hill Junior and Infant School provides an outstanding education where pupils are “proud of their school” and demonstrate “impeccable manners.” The report highlights a “calm, supportive environment” with “warm and caring” relationships, resulting in pupils who are “confident and independent.” Leaders and staff are aligned in delivering a “high-quality education” that ensures all pupils achieve exceptionally well.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “highly ambitious and carefully designed” to build knowledge progressively, ensuring pupils “build on what they have previously learned.”
- Teachers possess “strong subject knowledge” and “skilfully adapt learning” to meet individual needs, including those with SEND, while quickly addressing misconceptions.
- Phonics teaching is consistent and effective, with books “precisely matched to pupils’ phonic knowledge,” enabling pupils to read “fluently, accurately and with increasing expression.”
- Early years provision is excellent, with a “precise focus on developing vocabulary” that helps children communicate confidently and build resilience from the start.
- Personal development is “excellent,” offering a “wealth of deliberately designed experiences” that empower pupils to take on leadership roles and responsibilities.
Areas to improve
The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 93% |
| 2023/24 | 93% |
| 2024/25 | 97% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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