Rooks Nest Academy, Wakefield
Rooks Nest Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Wakefield. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 51 schools in Wakefield with published results, and 2,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wakefield (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rooks Nest Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Rooks Nest Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 91% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 82% in reading and 84% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Rooks Nest Academy
For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Rooks Nest Academy as their first choice and 120 named it as one of their preferences, for 43 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Rooks Nest Academy are Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 74% reading, 87% maths); Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 97% maths); Newton Hill Community School (0.7 miles, Good, 94% reading, 97% maths); and Stanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy (0.9 miles, 87% reading, 87% maths).
Rooks Nest Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Outwood Primary Academy Ledger LaneOutwood Primary Academy Lofthouse GateNewton Hill Community SchoolStanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy
Who goes there
11.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 12% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%) and Asian (13%).
In 2026, 51 pupils (13.9%) received SEN support and 10 (2.7%) 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 Outwood Rail Station, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Newton Lane End (at), 140 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Rooks Nest Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Rooks Nest Academy are Outwood Grange Academy (0.6 miles), Rodillian Academy (1.5 miles) and Outwood Academy City Fields (1.7 miles).
Outwood Grange AcademyRodillian AcademyOutwood Academy City Fields
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
11.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 84% to 91% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 84% to 93% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
26.4
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
12
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Rooks Nest Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rooks Nest Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rooks Nest Academy 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
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 10 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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
Your chances of a place at Rooks Nest Academy
Will you get a place at Rooks Nest Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Rooks Nest Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Rooks Nest Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Rooks Nest Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wakefield, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Rooks Nest Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wakefield got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
308 pupils
315 places
7 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wakefield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wakefield
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.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
51
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
16.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
368
Total Pupils
188
Boys
180
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
23.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,701
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,956
Per pupil
£1660k
Total funding
£64k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
17.4%
Persistent absence
276
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
Rooks Nest Academy
Questions parents ask about Rooks Nest Academy
What are SATs results like at Rooks Nest Academy?
Of the pupils at Rooks Nest Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 85% reached the expected standard in reading and 91% did so in maths.
What is Rooks Nest Academy's Ofsted rating?
Rooks Nest Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2007 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Rooks Nest Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Rooks Nest Academy is oversubscribed, Wakefield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Rooks Nest Academy?
Rooks Nest Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Rooks Nest Academy?
Classes at Rooks Nest Academy average 28.7 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Rooks Nest Academy?
Rooks Nest Academy has around 368 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Rooks Nest Academy?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Rooks Nest Academy in 2024/25. 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Rooks Nest Academy?
Apply through Wakefield's coordinated admissions process, naming Rooks Nest Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Rooks Nest Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 10 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Rooks Nest Academy?
Rooks Nest Academy is at Rooks Nest Road, Outwood, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3DX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)