Marsden Junior School, Huddersfield

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Marsden Junior School on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The quality of the curriculum and its effective implementation by teaching staff are core strengths of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "A clear focus on personal development helps pupils grow into well-rounded and knowledgeable individuals."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders' focus over recent years to improve the quality of the curriculum has improved outcomes for pupils by the end of Year 6."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Overall, pupils attend school well."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations of pupils who face additional barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders at all levels have high ambitions for pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to review the pupil premium strategy to further improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils by the end of key stage 2"; "Leaders should continue to raise expectations for attendance to ensure that all pupil groups attend school regularly".

In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Marsden Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Kirklees and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 83% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.

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

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).

The nearest other state primary schools to Marsden Junior School are Marsden Infant and Nursery School (0.1 miles, Requires improvement); Slaithwaite Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School (2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 73% maths); Nields Academy (2 miles, 92% reading, 81% maths); and Wilberlee Junior and Infant School (2.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths).

Marsden Junior School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Marsden Junior School is one of 9 schools run by Great Heights Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

4.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 42 pupils (25.5%) received SEN support and 5 (3%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Marsden Rail Station, about 520 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

26 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Manchester Road, 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 17 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).

In 2024/25, Marsden Junior School issued 2 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.