St Ignatius Catholic Primary School
Wakefield, WF5 0DQ · Wakefield · primary school
Check the area around this school
20th 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 — 9.1/10 against 4,143 of them, against 8.9/10 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 | 79.0 · 86 | 40% | 3.43 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 21.0 · 93 | 25% | 2.32 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Ignatius Catholic Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 79.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 21.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025. 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 (9.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join clubs including Mindfulness, Sewing, Arts & Crafts, Times Tables Rockstars, Reading, KS2 Choir, Football Club, and Rocksteady. Music opportunities include Young Voices, Wakefield Music Services, Melodica, and BKCAT Youth Choir. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 138 pupils against a stated capacity of 140. 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
How does the after-school club integrate with the regular timetable? What specific support is provided for pupils aiming for the higher standard in maths?
What Ofsted said about St Ignatius Catholic Primary School
Overview
This ungraded inspection found that aspects of the school’s work “may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection,” triggering a future graded inspection. While the school remains a “caring and nurturing environment” with high attendance, inconsistencies in curriculum delivery mean that “some pupils do not learn all that they should.”
Strengths
- Staff provide a “caring and nurturing environment” where pupils understand and apply virtues of “respect, resilience and responsibility.”
- Pupils are “safe at the school” and can share concerns through mechanisms like the “class worry box.”
- The curriculum is “broad and balanced” and mapped to ensure pupils learn knowledge in the “right order at the right time.”
- Phonics provision is effective, with daily sessions ensuring that “Year 1 pupils learn to read well.”
- The school fosters community engagement, with pupils proud to support charity events and participate in choral activities.
Areas to improve
- Checks on pupils’ knowledge are not always used effectively to identify misconceptions, meaning these “remain longer than necessary.”
- Activity choices are “not ambitious enough” for some pupils, including those with SEND, failing to fully realise the curriculum’s ambition.
- Curriculum delivery is “variable across subjects,” resulting in pupils not learning “consistently well.”
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 | 45% |
| 2023/24 | 56% |
| 2024/25 | 79% |
| 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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