Shepley First School, Huddersfield
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Shepley First School excels in teaching reading and writing through energetic phonics teaching and a rigorous, systematic approach to writing that has dramatically improved standards. The school has strong, visionary leadership that has galvanised staff and created high expectations for all pupils. Children enjoy school, work with sustained concentration, and actively use the detailed feedback from teachers to improve their work.
Key Strengths
- Effective teaching of phonics leading to good reading outcomes, with above-average results at end of Year 1
- Systematic approach to writing has raised standards significantly, with good progress in quality, quantity and accuracy across all year groups
- Strong leadership that has galvanised staff and governors, with new assessment systems enabling teachers to measure progress more frequently and precisely
- Good support for newly qualified teachers and effective professional development for new subject leaders
- Pupils enjoy learning, work with sustained concentration, and respond well to frequent and specific feedback from teachers
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils do not write at the same frequency, depth or length in subjects other than English
- Lack of common assessment method between the school and middle schools for transition at end of Year 5
- Need to ensure ambitious targets enable more pupils to reach high standards
- Parents not yet receiving detailed progress information about their children (planned to begin this school year)
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective, with all arrangements fit for purpose and a positive culture that allows pupils to talk to adults about problems, though leaders are sometimes let down by slow communication from social services.
Shepley First School continues to be good. The leadership team has maintained quality education since the last inspection in 2012, with the headteacher driving rapid improvement through high expectations, clear vision, and strong evaluation of school strengths and weaknesses.
At a Glance
7.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
27.7
KS2
6
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
168 pupils
180 capacity
12 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Huddersfield
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Huddersfield
Admissions Demand - Kirklees
Places available
5,606
Applications
4,584
Got 1st preference
93.6%
Got preferred school
99.0%
Primary admissions across Kirklees (2025/26)
Inspection History(107)
House Prices
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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
3.61116%
Overall absence
4.8951%
Persistent absence
143
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Shepley First School
Nearby Schools
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