Birkby Junior School, Huddersfield
Birkby Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Huddersfield. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 15th-highest of the 38 schools in Huddersfield with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Capacity
- 97% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Birkby Junior School in detail
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Birkby Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Kirklees and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 67% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Birkby Junior School
Across Kirklees, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Kirklees lodged 196 appeals against primary school offers; 125 reached a hearing and 25 succeeded (20% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Birkby Junior School are Birkby Infant and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Outstanding); Brambles Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 71% reading, 76% maths); St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy (0.7 miles, 69% reading, 71% maths); and Ashbrow School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 69% reading, 78% maths).
Birkby Junior School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Birkby Infant and Nursery SchoolBrambles Primary AcademySt Patrick's Catholic Primary AcademyAshbrow School
Who goes there
41.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 81.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (67%), Black (11%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 85 pupils (15.7%) received SEN support and 13 (2.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Huddersfield Rail Station, about 1170 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Honoria Street (opposite), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Birkby Junior School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 466 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 Kirklees (153), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Birkby Junior School issued 13 suspensions, 2.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Birkby Junior School are North Huddersfield Trust School (0.8 miles), Netherhall Learning Campus High School (1.1 miles) and All Saints Catholic College (1.4 miles).
North Huddersfield Trust SchoolNetherhall Learning Campus High SchoolAll Saints Catholic College
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
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Your child will be part of a caring school community where behaviour is excellent and everyone is treated fairly and equally. The school excels at helping all children learn to read confidently and provides outstanding support for children with additional needs. With a strong curriculum, wonderful enrichment activities like theatre trips and culture celebrations, plus caring staff who know families well, your child will thrive academically and personally.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and attitudes - pupils are respectful, resilient and meet high expectations
- Outstanding support for pupils with SEND - tailored curriculum and careful follow-up of support plans
- Strong focus on reading - consistent, well-trained approach helps all pupils including those learning English
- Ambitious curriculum with good sequencing in most subjects like maths and science
- Extensive enrichment activities and community involvement - theatre visits, culture days, charity work, playtime leadership roles
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching methods in a small number of newer subjects are not yet as effective - pupils have gaps in knowledge in these areas
- Some families withdraw children for extended holidays - school works to help them catch up but this impacts learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with the school prioritising pupil safety as the highest priority for all staff.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre visits, beach trips, playtime leader roles, well-being warrior roles, charity fundraising events, culture days with traditional dress and international food
Birkby Junior School is a good junior school where pupils feel happy and safe, with outstanding behaviour and personal development. The school has an ambitious curriculum and strong leadership, though some newer subjects need further development in teaching methods.
At a Glance
41.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 73% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.1
Avg class size
27.1
KS2
20
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Birkby Junior School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Birkby Junior School.
- Tuition Time Hub260m away · Not yet graded
- The Brambles After School Club800m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Birkby Junior School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Kirklees. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2028)
- Summer term: Monday 24 April to Tuesday 25 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Birkby Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Birkby Junior School is in Kirklees; for families living there:
- Kirklees's school travel policy: School transport
- How to apply: Apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 68
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 16
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 68 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 16 serious and 52 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
13 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
583 pupils
600 places
17 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Huddersfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Huddersfield
Across Kirklees council
Places available
5,437
Applications
4,554
Got 1st preference
93.8%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Kirklees council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
85
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
18.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
541
Total Pupils
278
Boys
263
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
18.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,537
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,550
Per pupil
£3678k
Total funding
£326k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
12.4%
Persistent absence
621
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
Questions parents ask about Birkby Junior School
What are SATs results like at Birkby Junior School?
Of the pupils at Birkby Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is Birkby Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Birkby Junior School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023.
What is the catchment area for Birkby Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Birkby Junior School is oversubscribed, Kirklees allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Birkby Junior School?
Birkby Junior School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Birkby Junior School?
Classes at Birkby Junior School average 27.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Birkby Junior School?
Birkby Junior School has around 541 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Birkby Junior School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Birkby Junior School in 2024/25. 12.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Birkby Junior School?
Apply through Kirklees's coordinated admissions process, naming Birkby Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Birkby Junior School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Birkby Junior School: Tuition Time Hub (260m away, registered, not yet graded) and The Brambles After School Club (800m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Birkby Junior School's term dates?
Birkby Junior School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Kirklees. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Tuesday 25 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Birkby Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 68 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 16 serious and 52 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 13 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Birkby Junior School?
Birkby Junior School is at Mead Street, Fartown, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 6HE.
Sources: Kirklees term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)