Joseph Norton Academy, Huddersfield
Joseph Norton Academy is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Huddersfield, part of Wellspring Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Joseph Norton Academy in detail
Joseph Norton Academy in its own words
On phones, the school says: "Mobile phones are not allowed in school and must be handed in at the school gate."
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Joseph Norton Academy are Edan Court School (1.2 miles) and Denby Grange School (3.5 miles).
The trust
Joseph Norton Academy is one of 33 schools run by Wellspring Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 12 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 42% to a further education college and 8% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
67.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (16%).
Almost every pupil at Joseph Norton Academy has an education, health and care plan (62 of 62 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Joseph Norton Academy provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Denby Dale Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Busker Lane, 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 43 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Joseph Norton Academy issued 4 suspensions, 6.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from April 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Joseph Norton Academy excels at creating a safe, nurturing space where pupils feel secure and develop strong relationships with staff. The school has exceptional personal development opportunities, including work experience and community activities, which help young people prepare well for their future. Staff are highly skilled at supporting pupils with complex needs, using personalised strategies to help them manage emotions and access learning successfully.
Key Strengths
- Excellent personal development opportunities including work experience, kindness ambassador roles and community involvement
- Strong reading progress with pupils quickly gaining confidence and fluency through specialist teaching
- Skilled teachers who effectively identify gaps in knowledge and adapt the curriculum for each pupil
- Well-managed behaviour creating a positive learning environment with minimal disruption
- High staff morale with school prioritising staff wellbeing and professional development
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils at the earliest stages of writing need more consistent specialist support to accelerate their progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff creating an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Kindness ambassador roles, Open Farm Sunday, work experience, cooking, mechanics, careers support
Joseph Norton Academy is a special school that has successfully maintained good standards since its last inspection. The school provides a safe, nurturing environment where pupils with complex special educational needs can thrive and develop their personal, social and emotional skills.
At a Glance
67.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Joseph Norton Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Joseph Norton Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Joseph Norton Academy 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
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 6 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
2 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
78%
Available places
62 pupils
80 places
18 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Huddersfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Huddersfield
Across Kirklees council
Places available
4,930
Applications
4,787
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
97.8%
All secondary applications across Kirklees council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
62
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Joseph Norton Academy provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
62
Total Pupils
62
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
4.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,245
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
23.1%
Overall absence
52.3%
Persistent absence
65
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Joseph Norton Academy
What are GCSE results like at Joseph Norton Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Joseph Norton Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 3.9. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Joseph Norton Academy's Ofsted rating?
Joseph Norton Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Joseph Norton Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Joseph Norton Academy is oversubscribed, Kirklees allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Joseph Norton Academy?
Joseph Norton Academy has around 62 pupils on roll. 68% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Joseph Norton Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Joseph Norton Academy provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Joseph Norton Academy?
23.1% of sessions were missed at Joseph Norton Academy in 2024/25. 52.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Joseph Norton Academy?
Apply through Kirklees's coordinated admissions process, naming Joseph Norton Academy 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 Joseph Norton Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 6 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 2 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 Joseph Norton Academy?
Joseph Norton Academy is at Busker Lane, Scissett, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD8 9JU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)