Palfrey Junior School, Walsall

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades Palfrey Junior School on 6 areas: 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders monitor and analyse attendance carefully."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school's welcoming and inclusive culture helps pupils feel a sense of belonging."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders know the school very well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a comprehensive programme of personal development across the school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Reading outcomes at the end of key stage 2 remain below national averages."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to develop a consistent whole-school approach to spoken language so that pupils grow in confidence, use a wider vocabulary and express their ideas clearly in discussions and across the curriculum"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen the reading curriculum and further ensure that pupil outcomes in reading, for all groups, reflect national averages"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen strategies that support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to attend school as regularly as other pupil groups so they can benefit fully from the opportunities and experiences provided".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are pleased to introduce you to Palfrey Junior School. There is something very special about Palfrey - we are incredibly proud of our history and community, as well as our lovely children, supportive parents, inspiring staff and proactive governors. We all work together to make Palfrey Junior a vibrant, inclusive and fun place to learn."

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Palfrey Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Walsall and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 70% in reading and 71% in maths in 2024.

Across Walsall, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Walsall lodged 44 appeals against primary school offers; 30 reached a hearing and 1 succeeded (3.3% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Palfrey Junior School are Palfrey Infant School (under 0.1 miles); Whitehall Nursery and Infant Academy (0.4 miles); Caldmore Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 64% reading, 71% maths); and Hillary Primary School (0.4 miles).

11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Palfrey Junior School (as of April 2026): 91% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (73%).

50.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 93% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (81%) and other ethnic groups (11%).

In 2026, 84 pupils (23.4%) received SEN support and 10 (2.8%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Bescot Stadium Rail Station, about 1010 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whitmore Street (adjacent), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Palfrey Junior School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 626 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Walsall (297), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Palfrey Junior School issued 4 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Palfrey Junior School are Joseph Leckie Academy (0.6 miles), Walsall Studio School (0.7 miles), Blue Coat Church of England Academy (0.8 miles) and Wood Green Academy (0.9 miles).