Barkisland CofE VA Primary School, Halifax
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
This school has a warm, caring environment where Christian values help children grow into respectful, well-behaved learners. Reading is a real strength, with skilled phonics teaching helping most pupils become fluent readers. Teachers know their pupils well and adapt lessons to help them succeed, with particularly good support for children who need extra help.
Key Strengths
- Strong Christian ethos and community links that support pupils' personal development
- High-quality teaching in reading with well-trained phonics staff helping pupils become fluent readers
- Well-sequenced mathematics teaching with teachers adapting lessons to meet individual pupil needs
- Excellent behaviour, attendance, and respect for others demonstrated by pupils
- Good support for pupils with special educational needs, helping them develop independence
Areas for Improvement
- Early years curriculum not fully developed - some pupils not making as much progress as they could
- Curriculum in foundation subjects like geography and modern foreign languages needs clearer planning and sequencing
- Reading books not always matched to pupils' phonics knowledge, slowing progress for some
- Some lower-attaining pupils lack time and resources to access reasoning and problem-solving work in mathematics
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with appropriate staff checks, accurate records, well-trained staff, and swift follow-up of concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, eco-council, health and safety team, football, athletics, cross-country running, brass instruments (Year 3), piano, guitar, diversity week activities, daily mile, mindfulness colouring and meditation
Barkisland CofE VA Primary School is a good school where Christian values are central to everything it does. Pupils are happy, well-behaved, and benefit from strong teaching in reading and mathematics, though some areas of the curriculum need better planning.
At a Glance
4.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
138 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 73% to 84%. Maths has remained stable at around 84%. Writing has improved from 77% to 92%.
Class Sizes
27.6
Avg class size
25.7
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
197 pupils
210 capacity
13 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Halifax
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Halifax
Admissions Demand - Calderdale
Places available
2,943
Applications
1,899
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
98.9%
Primary admissions across Calderdale (2025/26)
Inspection History(105)
House Prices
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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
3.42281%
Overall absence
4.11765%
Persistent absence
170
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Barkisland CofE VA Primary School
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