Shade Primary School, Todmorden
Shade Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Todmorden. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 7 schools in Todmorden with published results, and 3,012th of 14,452 across England. It was 80% 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 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Calderdale (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Shade Primary School in detail
Shade Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Shade Primary School is a one form entry school, from Nursery to Year Six, in the heart of its local community. We are pleased to be described as a happy school and proud of our inclusive and open atmosphere. Our children get off to a flying start - they are happy and safe and increasingly independent."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming and forest school.
On phones, the school says: "Mobile phones which are brought into school must be turned off (not placed on silent) and should be placed in the class box each morning as soon as the child enters the classroom."
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Shade Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Calderdale and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (84% in reading, 88% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Shade Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 10 families put Shade Primary School as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 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 Shade Primary School are Walsden St Peter's CE (VC) Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); Todmorden CofE J, I & N School (0.8 miles, Good, 70% reading, 81% maths); St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); and Castle Hill Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 70% maths).
Shade Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Walsden St Peter's CE (VC) Primary SchoolTodmorden CofE J, I & N SchoolSt Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary AcademyCastle Hill Primary School
Who goes there
2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (5%).
Staffing
Shade Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 24 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Todmorden Rail Station, about 960 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Knowlwood Road Shade Junior & Inf School, 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Calderdale (102).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Shade Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 2.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Shade Primary School excels at creating a happy, caring community where children feel safe and valued. Music is a particular strength, with every pupil learning an instrument and enjoying regular performances. The school brings learning to life through excellent early reading teaching, engaging classroom lessons, and enriching trips and activities that develop independence and curiosity.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional music programme - every pupil learns violin or cello in Year 4, with many continuing and enjoying performances
- Excellent early reading approach with daily stories, trained staff, and a well-stocked library that prepares children very well for learning
- Strong assessment and teaching in early reading and mathematics, where teachers check understanding and adapt lessons to help pupils keep up
- Ambitious early years curriculum that develops children's language, knowledge, curiosity and resilience
- Wide range of enrichment activities including clubs, residential visits, and visits to local areas that bring learning to life
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers in some foundation subjects like history are not checking pupils' learning as effectively, missing opportunities to address gaps and misconceptions
- Subject-specific vocabulary has not been identified and sequenced in all subjects, meaning pupils struggle to explain their learning clearly in some areas
- Assessment practices need to be more consistent across all subjects to help pupils make better progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - staff receive thorough training and leaders are alert to problems pupils may face, with tenacious follow-up to ensure families receive appropriate support.
Extracurricular Activities
Chinese Club, choir, sports clubs, reading clubs, violin and cello lessons, piano lessons, residential visits to outdoor pursuits centres, visits to local areas including Towneley Park
Shade Primary School is a good school where pupils are happy, safe, and well cared for. Leaders have high expectations and ensure every child receives the support they need to succeed.
At a Glance
16.9%
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 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.0
Avg class size
20.3
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Shade Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Shade Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Shade Primary School is in Calderdale; for families living there:
Apply to Calderdale for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Calderdale is 12 (the median across 114 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 Shade Primary School
Will you get a place at Shade Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Shade Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Shade Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Shade Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Calderdale, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Shade Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Calderdale 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
80%
Available places
168 pupils
210 places
42 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Todmorden
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Todmorden
Across Calderdale council
Places available
2,848
Applications
1,863
Got 1st preference
96.6%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Calderdale council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
18.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
178
Total Pupils
84
Boys
94
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
25.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,927
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,652
Per pupil
£1022k
Total funding
£50k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
10.2%
Persistent absence
147
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
Shade Primary School
Questions parents ask about Shade Primary School
What are SATs results like at Shade Primary School?
Of the pupils at Shade Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Shade Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Shade Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Shade Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Shade Primary School is oversubscribed, Calderdale allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Shade Primary School?
Shade Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Shade Primary School?
Classes at Shade Primary School average 23 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Shade Primary School?
Shade Primary School has around 178 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Shade Primary School?
4.7% of sessions were missed at Shade Primary School in 2024/25. 10.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Shade Primary School?
Apply through Calderdale's coordinated admissions process, naming Shade Primary School 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 Shade Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Calderdale is 12 (the median across 114 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Shade Primary School?
Shade Primary School is at Knowlwood Road, Shade, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, OL14 7PD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)