Helme Church of England Academy, Holmfirth

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Helme Church of England Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils feel a sense of belonging and do not want to miss school."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders have embedded an early years curriculum that gets children off to the best possible start in their learning."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and well-informed understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching across the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a welcoming culture where everyone is included."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a united sense of moral purpose across staff, pupils and parents and carers to ensure that the school's values of ‘dream, believe, achieve' are realised for all pupils, regardless of their starting points."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an effective and comprehensive personal, social and health education programme across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further embed strategies to ensure that staff teach the curriculum consistently well across all subjects and year groups, and that this leads to consistently above-average attainment for pupils in national tests"; "Leaders should further develop their systems to ensure that the opportunities and experiences of all pupils who face barriers to their learning are consistently enhanced"; "Leaders should ensure that the personal, social and health education curriculum supports pupils to develop secure and detailed knowledge across all aspects of this area".

The school runs a breakfast club.

In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Helme Church of England Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Kirklees and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 68% in reading and 74% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Helme Church of England Academy as their first choice and 62 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Helme Church of England Academy are Meltham Moor Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 100% reading, 90% maths); Meltham CofE (VC) Primary School (1 mile, Good, 79% reading, 76% maths); Linthwaite Clough Primary School (1.4 miles); and Linthwaite Ardron CofE (Voluntary Aided) Junior and Infant School (1.5 miles, Good, 90% reading, 72% maths).

Helme Church of England Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Helme Church of England Academy is one of 19 schools run by Learning Accord Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

1.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 40 pupils (29.4%) received SEN support and 12 (8.8%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Slaithwaite Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Slades Lane, 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 40 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153).

Helme Church of England Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.