South Kirkby Academy, Pontefract

In its own words: "South Kirkby Academy is a junior school based in the heart of the ex-mining town South Kirkby situated in Wakefield district. We have space for 240 children across eight classes."

From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Adam Potter and I have worked at South Kirkby Academy since September 2021 as Deputy Headteacher, Head of School and now Headteacher. I have proudly worked for Waterton Academy Trust since 2017, holding a number of teaching positions and leadership roles during that time."

In 2025, 48% of Year 6 pupils at South Kirkby Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 42% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Wakefield and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 55% in reading and 54% in maths in 2024.

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

Across Wakefield, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Wakefield lodged 154 appeals against primary school offers; 82 reached a hearing and 13 succeeded (15.9% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to South Kirkby Academy are South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Ark Northfield Primary School (0.7 miles, 88% reading, 83% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe (1.3 miles, Good, 59% reading, 83% maths); and Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource (1.3 miles, Good, 60% reading, 58% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than South Kirkby Academy.

South Kirkby Academy is one of 16 schools run by Waterton Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

50% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 22 pupils (11.8%) received SEN support and 5 (2.7%) 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 Moorthorpe Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mill Close, 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood South Kirkby Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, South Kirkby Academy issued 25 suspensions, 12 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.