St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Halifax, HX2 8JY · Calderdale · primary school
Check the area around this school
37th of 76 primary schools in Calderdale we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.7/10 against 828 of them, against 4.8/10 nationally. 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 | 58.0 · 35 | 62% | 2.13 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 11.0 · 71 | 38% | 2.72 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 58.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, 11.0% achieved it, against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Board Games & Cooking, LEGO Club, Mindfulness, and Storytime Club, as well as Girls’ Football, African Drumming, and Dance. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 172 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
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in core subjects? What specific activities are included in the mindfulness sessions?
What Ofsted said about St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Overview
St Malachy’s is described as an “inclusive and caring school” where pupils feel safe and grow in confidence. While behaviour, personal development, and leadership are rated Good, the quality of education requires improvement because recent curriculum changes have not yet translated into sufficient pupil outcomes.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from “positive relationships” with staff, resulting in calm classrooms where bullying is rare and incidents of poor behaviour have “reduced significantly”.
- The school has “prioritised reading”, with highly trained staff teaching phonics well and providing effective support for those who struggle.
- Children in the early years “flourish” in an engaging environment, developing strong mathematics skills and social collaboration.
- Staff are supportive of improvements, with leaders providing necessary training and the academy council offering effective challenge and support.
- The personal development programme ensures pupils understand healthy relationships, online safety, and the importance of equality.
Areas to improve
- Ensure that adaptations to the curriculum sequence consistently meet pupils’ needs, rather than disrupting the logical order of learning.
- Equip staff to use assessment strategies effectively so that gaps in knowledge and misconceptions are addressed before pupils move on.
- Re-focus strategies to reduce persistent absence, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, which currently negatively impacts academic achievement.
Safeguarding
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 | 20% |
| 2023/24 | 14% |
| 2024/25 | 58% |
| 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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