Ark Northfield 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. These values are explicitly taught, consistently modelled, and celebrated weekly across the school. They underpin everything we do and provide our pupils with a strong sense of identity and belonging."

From the headteacher's welcome: "The journey of transformation at Northfield Primary School has been nothing short of remarkable. It is a genuine privilege to lead such a dedicated team and vibrant school community that continues to strive for, and achieve, excellence every single day. This past academic year has been one of outstanding success and continued momentum."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Ark Northfield Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.

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, 46 families put Ark Northfield Primary School as their first choice and 70 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 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.

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 Northfield Primary School are South Kirkby Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 48% reading, 42% maths); South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good); Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource (0.7 miles, Good, 60% reading, 58% maths); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe (0.8 miles, Good, 59% reading, 83% maths).

Ark Northfield Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Ark Northfield 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.

23.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 3.1% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 39 pupils (11%) received SEN support and 33 (9.3%) 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.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £5,360 per pupil (£1.9 million in total), including £104,535 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Moorthorpe Rail Station, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Kirkby Church (near), 170 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark Northfield Primary School stands in is among the 30% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 5th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 127 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is close to the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (127).