Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School, Wakefield

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "The school helps pupils to achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching in the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years are happy and settled."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have reviewed their approach to inclusive practice, recognising the changing context of the pupils who attend."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There is an established leadership team at the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school vision is that every pupil should have the opportunity to shine."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders acknowledge that pupils' attendance needs to improve."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on the success of their recent work to ensure that all pupils secure their foundational knowledge in writing"; "Leaders should embed their work to increase pupils' attendance to ensure that improvements are sustained over time".

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 70% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 24 families put Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School are Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths); Middlestown Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 95% reading, 95% maths); Horbury St Peter's and Clifton CofE (VC) Primary School (1 mile, Good, 66% reading, 69% maths); and Horbury Primary Academy (1.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 83% maths).

Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

11.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 18 pupils (9.8%) received SEN support and 9 (4.9%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Wakefield Westgate Rail Station, about 3.7 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Netherton School, 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 32 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Wakefield (130).

In 2024/25, Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Sitlington Netherton Junior and Infant School are Horbury Academy (1.5 miles) and Ossett Academy and Sixth Form College (1.5 miles).