Crofton Junior School, Wakefield
Crofton Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Wakefield. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 21st-highest of the 51 schools in Wakefield with published results, and 6,110th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Capacity
- 98% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Crofton Junior School in detail
Crofton Junior School in its own words
In its own words: "Crofton Junior School is a caring, happy and welcoming school. We provide a safe, stimulating environment for children to flourish both in their learning and as individuals. Our school encourages all individuals, no matter what their ability or background, to feel equally valued and achieve their full potential, preparing them for adult life."
From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to Crofton Junior School where we are committed to nurturing every pupil to achieve their full potential, they are the heartbeat of our school, they are our pride and joy."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Crofton Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% 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, 77% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Crofton Junior School
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 2026, families in Wakefield lodged 154 appeals against primary school offers; 82 reached a hearing and 13 succeeded (15.9% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Crofton Junior School are Crofton Infant School (0.1 miles, Good); Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School (0.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); Sharlston Community School (1.2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 77% maths); and Streethouse Junior, Infant and Nursery School (1.6 miles, Requires improvement, 60% reading, 53% maths).
Crofton Junior School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Crofton Infant SchoolShay Lane Primary (J and I) SchoolSharlston Community SchoolStreethouse Junior, Infant and Nursery School
Who goes there
3.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Streethouse Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crofton Junior School (at), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 35 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (130).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Crofton Junior School issued 2 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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 agoThis judgement is from May 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Crofton Junior School excels at making learning enjoyable and memorable through an ambitious curriculum, high-quality teaching, and exciting enrichment activities. Your child will be exceptionally well cared for in a respectful, inclusive environment where reading is prioritized and all pupils, including those with additional needs, can thrive and make progress. The school goes above and beyond to develop confident, engaged learners who take pride in their work.
Key Strengths
- Excellent teaching with consistent high-quality learning across the school and expert subject knowledge
- Reading is a priority with highly effective phonics support and well-matched books helping all pupils become confident readers
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that is adapted to support pupils with SEND to access all subjects
- Strong behaviour culture with calm classrooms, high standards throughout school and very rare bullying
- Outstanding extra-curricular opportunities including residential trips to France that link meaningfully to learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with a strong culture in place, regular staff training, vigilant leaders who know pupils and families well, and clear reporting systems for pupils through ask it baskets and worry boxes.
Extracurricular Activities
Guitar, cross country, gymnastics, educational visits to France (residential), mosque, Flamborough Head, The Hepworth Museum, school council, head boy/girl roles, librarian responsibilities, climate change walks
Crofton Junior School is a good school with strong evidence of improved performance that could warrant an outstanding rating. The school is built on values of Respect, Nurture and Inspire, creating a welcoming environment where pupils are highly cared for and achieve well across all subjects.
At a Glance
25.5%
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 77% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 82% to 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.6
KS2
5
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Crofton Junior School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Crofton Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Crofton Junior School is in Wakefield; for families living there:
- Wakefield's school travel policy: Home To School Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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 Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 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
98%
Near capacity
235 pupils
240 places
5 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wakefield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wakefield
Across Wakefield council
Places available
4,391
Applications
3,654
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Wakefield council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
38
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
20.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
231
Total Pupils
118
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
16.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,151
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,227
Per pupil
£1379k
Total funding
£89k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
12.2%
Persistent absence
238
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
Crofton Junior School
Questions parents ask about Crofton Junior School
What are SATs results like at Crofton Junior School?
Of the pupils at Crofton Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is Crofton Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Crofton Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Crofton Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Crofton Junior School is oversubscribed, Wakefield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Crofton Junior School?
Crofton Junior School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Crofton Junior School?
Classes at Crofton Junior School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Crofton Junior School?
Crofton Junior School has around 231 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Crofton Junior School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Crofton Junior School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Crofton Junior School?
Apply through Wakefield's coordinated admissions process, naming Crofton 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.
How many road collisions happen near Crofton Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Crofton Junior School?
Crofton Junior School is at Slack Lane, Crofton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 1HJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)