Simpson's Lane Academy, Knottingley
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Simpson's Lane Academy excels at creating a nurturing environment where children love learning and respect one another. The school has outstanding support systems ensuring all pupils - including those with additional needs - achieve exceptionally well. Beyond academics, the school provides an astonishing range of enrichment opportunities that help children develop important life skills and become active, aware citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong reading culture with accessible books throughout school and highly effective phonics support for early readers
- Personalised, high-quality curriculum that makes learning relevant and builds strong pupil understanding
- Excellent support systems for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, resulting in exceptional achievement
- Very high behaviour expectations with a positive school atmosphere and trained mental health ambassadors supporting wellbeing
- Rigorous absence procedures leading to significantly improved attendance rates below national figures
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff ensuring pupils are safe and pupils speaking confidently about how staff keep them secure.
Extracurricular Activities
Mental health ambassador programme, community improvement activities, cooking, financial management training, educational visit to gurdwara, breakfast club
Simpson's Lane Academy is a primary school full of happy, polite pupils who thrive in a remarkable environment created by leaders. The school has established very high expectations for pupils' academic and wider development, with excellent outcomes in national tests.
At a Glance
54.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
21 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 84%. Maths has remained stable at around 84%. Writing has improved from 77% to 84%.
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
24.5
Infant (KS1)
25.8
KS2
16
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
67%
Available places
387 pupils
577 capacity
190 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Knottingley
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Knottingley
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(4)
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
5.1685%
Overall absence
10.3125%
Persistent absence
320
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
Simpson's Lane Academy
Nearby Schools
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