Airedale Infant Academy, Castleford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school excels at teaching children to read with confidence and enthusiasm through expert phonics teaching. Staff care deeply about every child and quickly identify those who need extra support, putting help in place immediately. The curriculum brings learning to life through trips, visitors, and real experiences that help children remember what they learn.
Key Strengths
- Excellent phonics teaching with well-trained staff delivering consistent, high-quality lessons
- Strong early years provision with quick identification of SEND and rapid additional support
- Well-established curriculum that helps pupils remember learning and teaches about diverse cultures
- Positive relationships between staff and families, with good community engagement
- Good support for pupils with SEND throughout the curriculum
Areas for Improvement
- Writing and transcription skills need improvement - pupils have not achieved as well as they could
- Attendance remains inconsistent for some pupils, causing them to miss vital learning
- Writing curriculum changes are recent and need ongoing monitoring to ensure they improve outcomes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff creating positive relationships and pupils knowing adults will help them.
Extracurricular Activities
Cooking club, gardening club, sports club, dance club, sewing club, wildlife park visits, science museum visits, breakfast club
Airedale Infant Academy has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. The school ensures pupils behave well, feel cared for, and make good progress, with strong teaching in phonics and early years development.
At a Glance
20.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
31 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Social & online
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
114%
Over capacity
206 pupils
180 capacity
26 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Castleford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Castleford
Admissions Demand - Wakefield
Places available
4,426
Applications
3,755
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Primary admissions across Wakefield (2025/26)
Inspection History(104)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.17364%
Overall absence
23.1405%
Persistent absence
121
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Airedale Infant Academy
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.