Ark Larks Hill Primary School, Pontefract

In its own words: "At Larks Hill, we are committed to investing in all of our children to prepare and provide them with the educational and life skills that they will need to be successful in high school and future careers."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Larks Hill is a one form entry school that sits at the heart of the local community and is attended by families over generations. Our school ethos is based on the notion of mutual respect. The pupils at Larks Hill demonstrate a strong respect for learning, for each other and for all members of the school community and beyond."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.

In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Ark Larks Hill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 93% in reading and 93% in maths in 2024.

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, 29 families put Ark Larks Hill Primary School as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 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.

Demand has been fairly steady: 31 first choices in 2021, against 29 in 2026.

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 Larks Hill Primary School are Ark Carleton Park Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 93% reading, 97% maths); Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 97% reading, 95% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract (0.7 miles, Good, 90% reading, 83% maths); and St Giles C of E Academy (1 mile, Good, 82% reading, 89% maths).

Ark Larks Hill Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Ark Larks Hill 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.

64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ark Larks Hill Primary School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (92%).

6.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 1% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 18 pupils (8.9%) received SEN support and 4 (2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Ark Larks Hill Primary School employed 8 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 26 pupils. Their average salary was £42,545.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £4,964 per pupil (£1.1 million in total), including £19,695 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Pontefract Tanshelf Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mill Hill Ave Oakwell Avenue, 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark Larks Hill Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 209 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (127), as is usual near a town centre.

Ark Larks Hill Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2023/24.

The secondary schools closest to Ark Larks Hill Primary School are Ark the King's School (0.3 miles), Ark Carleton High School (0.8 miles) and The Featherstone Academy (1 mile).