Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School, Ossett
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Ossett. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 5 schools in Ossett with published results, and 474th of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Capacity
- 94% full
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School in detail
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care, from £4 per session.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 96% 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 (92% in reading, 96% in maths).
Getting a place at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School are Dimple Well Infant School and Nursery (0.2 miles, Good); South Ossett Infant Academy (0.4 miles, Good); St Ignatius Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 86% maths); and Ossett Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 64% reading, 71% maths).
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Dimple Well Infant School and NurserySouth Ossett Infant AcademySt Ignatius Catholic Primary SchoolOssett Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School
What parents say
61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 58% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (58%).
Who goes there
2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 67 pupils (19.9%) received SEN support and 10 (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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Dewsbury Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Southdale Road (at), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School are Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College (0.4 miles) and Horbury Academy (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from November 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating an environment where children truly flourish. Teachers have high expectations for both behaviour and academic success, and pupils respond brilliantly - they are kind, self-controlled and proud to attend. The school ensures that all pupils, including those with additional needs, access an ambitious curriculum and make exceptional progress.
Key Strengths
- Expertly mapped curriculum that helps pupils build knowledge securely and make meaningful connections between past and new learning
- Impressive and varied ways of checking what pupils remember, with skilled teacher questioning and creative ways for pupils to showcase learning
- Swift identification of pupils needing reading support, with carefully considered phonics sessions leading to rapid progress
- Pupils with SEND access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers and make exceptional progress with skilful teaching
- Rich array of educational trips and residential visits that develop vital skills like independence and teamwork
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational trips, residential visits, clubs and activities at school
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School is rated Outstanding across all areas. Pupils flourish in this wonderful school, developing a deep passion for learning and building exceptionally strong relationships with staff and peers.
At a Glance
17.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
61 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 96% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 94% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
27.8
KS2
11
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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
- 24
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 17 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
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
94%
Near capacity
338 pupils
360 places
22 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ossett
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ossett
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
67
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
22.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
336
Total Pupils
175
Boys
161
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
19.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,921
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,031
Per pupil
£1860k
Total funding
£71k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
7.2%
Persistent absence
349
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
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Questions parents ask about Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
What are SATs results like at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Of the pupils at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 96% did so in maths.
What is Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 360 places.
How big are the classes at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Classes at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School average 27.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School has around 336 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
3.8% of sessions were missed at Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School in 2024/25. 7.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Apply through Wakefield's coordinated admissions process, naming Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 17 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 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 Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?
Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School is at Southdale Road, Ossett, West Yorkshire, WF5 8BA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)