Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #15 in Wakefield public Top 2% UK

Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Ian Shuttleworth

corporate_farePONTEFRACT ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onPontefract, WF8 4BW

language Visit Website phone 1977703270

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

459

school

Expected Standard

93%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School is a Academy converter primary school in Pontefract, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 2% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School is an academy converter in Pontefract, Wakefield, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of PONTEFRACT ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 437 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 26% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #15 of 98 primaries in Wakefield and #847 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

93%

LA 64%

Reading97% LA 74%

Writing95% LA 75%

Maths95% LA 75%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

88%

LA 63%England 61%

Reading95% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing92% LA 74% · Eng 72%

Maths93% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

90%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading95% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing90% LA 73% · Eng 71%

Maths92% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

111

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

8.5

Read

LA -0.7

6.8 to 10.1

2.9

Write

LA 0.1

1.4 to 4.4

8.5

Maths

LA 0.0

7.0 to 10.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

84%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading88% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing89% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths96% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.3

Read

LA -0.7

-1.9 to 1.3

-0.9

Write

LA 0.1

-2.4 to 0.6

1.3

Maths

LA -0.1

-0.1 to 2.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

59%

LA 60%

Reading67% LA 71%

Writing72% LA 77%

Maths78% LA 72%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA -0.7

-2.4 to 0.8

-2.2

Write

LA 0.1

-3.7 to -0.7

0.3

Maths

LA -0.6

-1.1 to 1.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

20 May 2025

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

25 April 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

06 February 2019

Inspection Report

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11 March 2015

Inspection Report

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04 April 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-05-20

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-02-06

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-03-11

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 437 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	437	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	432	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	452	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	443	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	449	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	471	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	459	9	2.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	431	16	3.7%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	455	11	2.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	443	6	1.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	440	11	2.5%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	461	2	0.4%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	455	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	451	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	468	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	468	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	454	2	0.4%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	465	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	453	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	437	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	470	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	455	1	0.2%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	442	8	1.8%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	464	1	0.2%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	455	3	0.7%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	443	2	0.5%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 34 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 22 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

88.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

10.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree67%

agree24%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree64%

agree30%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree31%

agree15%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

not applicable39%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes28%

no72%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree82%

agree8%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree67%

agree25%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree71%

agree22%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree59%

agree24%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree65%

agree29%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree63%

agree32%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree27%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes87%

no13%

Top Primary Schools in Wakefield

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Good

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Stanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy

Good

location_on Wakefield, WF3 4NT

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Carleton Park Junior and Infant School

Good

location_on Pontefract, WF8 3PT

emoji_events #3 in LA

Rooks Nest Academy

Good

location_on Wakefield, WF1 3DX

emoji_events #4 in LA

Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School

Good

location_on Ossett, WF5 8BA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Normanton Junior Academy

Good

location_on Normanton, WF6 1EY

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Wakefield arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Wakefield

Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Stanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy

Carleton Park Junior and Infant School

Rooks Nest Academy

Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School

Normanton Junior Academy