Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School, Wakefield
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school provides good support for vulnerable pupils through its Sparks Nurture Room and offers a range of clubs that pupils enjoy. Pupils report feeling safe and knowing how to keep themselves safe at school.
Key Strengths
- Effective support for pupils in the Sparks Nurture Room who receive additional social and emotional support
- Pupils feel safe in school and know how to keep themselves safe
- Good range of clubs provided for pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching quality is inadequate and must improve consistently to accelerate pupil progress
- Pupils' achievement has declined, particularly in writing and mathematics, with most able pupils underachieving
- Low expectations and insufficient challenge mean pupils do not achieve what they are capable of
- Health and safety policies and procedures are not followed consistently
- Leadership and governance are weak with unclear roles and responsibilities beyond the headteacher
Safeguarding
The school's work to keep pupils safe and secure is inadequate, with health and safety policies and procedures not being followed at all times, and governors failing to ensure pupils' safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Range of clubs, breakfast club, after-school club
Sandal Endowed Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School is a larger than average primary school that has declined considerably since its last inspection. The school requires special measures due to inadequate achievement, teaching, behaviour and safety, and leadership.
At a Glance
24.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
96 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 67% to 55%. Maths has declined from 70% to 61%. Writing has improved from 57% to 64%.
Class Sizes
29.4
Avg class size
29.4
Infant (KS1)
29.4
KS2
21
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
608 pupils
630 capacity
22 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Wakefield
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Wakefield
Admissions Demand - Wakefield
Places available
4,426
Applications
3,755
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Primary admissions across Wakefield (2025/26)
Inspection History(11)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.42285%
Overall absence
13.69369%
Persistent absence
555
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.