Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs, Wakefield
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Wakefield. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 21st-highest of the 51 schools in Wakefield with published results, and 6,110th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wakefield (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs in detail
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs in its own words
In its own words: "In our caring community, we treat one another as we hope to be treated."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Hello, and welcome to St Paul’s. I am very proud to be the headteacher of such a special school. It is a unique place that bases all it does around the school, its pupils and families."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 61% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs as their first choice and 70 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs are Wakefield Flanshaw Junior and Infant School (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 69% reading, 80% maths); Jerry Clay Academy (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 93% maths); St Michael's CofE Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 77% reading, 80% maths); and Wrenthorpe Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 70% reading, 75% maths).
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Wakefield Flanshaw Junior and Infant SchoolJerry Clay AcademySt Michael's CofE AcademyWrenthorpe Academy
Who goes there
9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 62 pupils (23.2%) received SEN support and 8 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wakefield Westgate Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Pauls Drive (at), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 221 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (130), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs issued 18 suspensions, 6.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs are Outwood Grange Academy (1.4 miles) and Trinity Academy Cathedral (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Pupils are happy, kind and safe in a caring community where staff have high expectations and tailor support to individual needs. Reading is woven throughout school life and pupils make strong progress. The school offers rich opportunities for learning beyond the classroom through clubs, competitions and musical experiences.
Key Strengths
- Reading is a key strength with expert phonics teaching and daily reading support for weaker readers
- Ambitious, broad curriculum with clear key knowledge mapped from Nursery to Year 6
- Strong support for pupils with SEND who participate fully in school life
- Effective use of assessment to identify gaps and adapt teaching
- Over 40 clubs including popular karate and golf, plus every Year 2 pupil learns a musical instrument
Areas for Improvement
- Some subject leaders are new to their roles and need more opportunities to monitor and evaluate their curriculum areas
- Need to develop robust systems for subject leaders to check how well curriculum changes are working across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with well-trained staff, thorough recruitment procedures, strong links with local agencies, and pupils having excellent knowledge of online safety risks.
Extracurricular Activities
Karate club, golf club, school competitions, musical instrument tuition (Year 2), assembly monitors, sports leaders, sports captains, dance, team games, construction activities, breakfast club, after-school clubs
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE School is a good primary school where pupils are happy, safe and work hard within a supportive 'shine' ethos. The school has improved significantly from its previous 'Requires improvement' rating, with particular strengths in reading and a broad, ambitious curriculum.
At a Glance
21.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 61% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 67% to 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.3
Avg class size
26.0
Infant (KS1)
35.5
KS2
7
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
From Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs is in Wakefield; for families living there:
- Wakefield's school travel policy: Home To School Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
Will you get a place at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wakefield, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wakefield got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
250 pupils
240 places
10 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wakefield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wakefield
Across Wakefield council
Places available
4,391
Applications
3,654
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Wakefield council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
62
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
26.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
267
Total Pupils
147
Boys
120
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
22.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,143
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,246
Per pupil
£1464k
Total funding
£68k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
12.7%
Persistent absence
221
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
Questions parents ask about Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs
What are SATs results like at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Of the pupils at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs's Ofsted rating?
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2018 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
No fixed boundary. When Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs is oversubscribed, Wakefield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs was full in 2025, at 104% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Classes at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs average 30.3 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs has around 267 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs in 2024/25. 12.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Apply through Wakefield's coordinated admissions process, naming Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs?
Alverthorpe St Paul's CofE (VA) School 3-11yrs is at St Paul's Drive, Alverthorpe, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 0BT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)