Ark De Lacy Primary School, Pontefract

In its own words: "Our vision is to provide a first-class education to all young people so that they make outstanding progress and get the chances in life they deserve. Are you ready to learn? Are pupils ready to demonstrate their best learning attributes?"

From the headteacher's welcome: "At De Lacy Primary School, we strive to provide our pupils with a safe and caring school environment, which enables them to be the best they can be. We ensure that all pupils receive the best possible educational journey so that they can move forward as well-rounded individuals."

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Ark De Lacy Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (77% in reading, 86% in maths).

Year groups in primary schools are small, so a handful of pupils can move these figures by several points from one year to the next.

For September 2026 entry, 44 families put Ark De Lacy Primary School as their first choice and 97 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places, so in 2026 a family who put it first could expect an offer unless the school's other criteria ruled them out.

First-choice demand has risen from 28 in 2021 to 44 in 2026, while places went from 28 to 44.

Across Wakefield, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2025, families in Wakefield lodged 127 appeals against primary school offers; 79 reached a hearing and 11 succeeded (13.9% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Ark De Lacy Primary School are Cherry Tree Academy (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 53% reading, 60% maths); Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 58% reading, 54% maths); Ark the Rookeries Carleton Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths); and St Giles C of E Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 82% reading, 89% maths).

Ark De Lacy Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Ark De Lacy Primary School is one of 48 schools run by ARK Schools, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 76% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2023/24.

48.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 4.5% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 46 pupils (13.7%) received SEN support and 8 (2.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 15.6% and 3.9% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Ark De Lacy Primary School employed 17 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 18 pupils. Their average salary was £44,024.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £5,926 per pupil (£2.2 million in total), including £240,885 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Pontefract Baghill Rail Station, about 760 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is De Lacy School (opposite), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark De Lacy Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2023/24, Ark De Lacy Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 2.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Ark De Lacy Primary School are Ark Carleton High School (0.9 miles) and Ark the King's School (1 mile).