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Upperthong Junior and Infant School, Holmfirth

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 4–11

Upperthong Junior and Infant School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Holmfirth. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 13 schools in Holmfirth with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.

SATs results
Above England average
Ofsted
Good (2012)
Demand
Every first choice offered
Attendance
Better than England average
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Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days

Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Kirklees (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.

Data last updated 26 Oct 2026

Upperthong Junior and Infant School in detail

Results

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Upperthong Junior and Infant School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Kirklees and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (78% in reading, 88% in maths).

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

Getting a place at Upperthong Junior and Infant School

For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Upperthong Junior and Infant School as their first choice and 60 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Admissions history and your chances at Upperthong Junior and Infant School

Compared with nearby schools

The nearest other state primary schools to Upperthong Junior and Infant School are Holmfirth Junior Infant and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths); Hinchliffe Mill Junior and Infant School (0.9 miles, Good, 82% reading, 82% maths); Netherthong Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 94% reading, 94% maths); and Scholes (Holmfirth) Junior & Infant School (1.6 miles, 72% reading, 66% maths).

Upperthong Junior and Infant School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Holmfirth Junior Infant and Nursery SchoolHinchliffe Mill Junior and Infant SchoolNetherthong Primary SchoolScholes (Holmfirth) Junior & Infant School

Who goes there

6.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1% 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 (6%).

In 2026, 20 pupils (9.6%) received SEN support and 11 (5.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Getting there

The nearest railway station is Brockholes Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.

24 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Upperthong School, 70 metres away.

The area around the school

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Upperthong 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 28 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153).

Suspensions and exclusions

In 2024/25, Upperthong Junior and Infant School issued 4 suspensions, 2 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; 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 GIAS
Head:Mr Nathan Cox
Pupils:209
LA:Kirklees
Phone:01484683176
Address:Burnlee Road, Holmfirth, HD9 2LE
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 4 years ago

This judgement is from December 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.

-

Overall

Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.

Inspected 22 February 2023View full report
URN:107680
UKPRN:10072564
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Colne Valley
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

From Ofsted's February 2023 inspection report.

What This School Does Well

Upperthong is a happy, safe place where children love coming to school and thrive through kind relationships and high expectations. The school excels at teaching reading early and effectively, supported by quality books and well-trained staff. Music is a particular strength, with singing assemblies and opportunities for all pupils to learn the glockenspiel, alongside clubs and activities that develop every child's talents.

Key Strengths

  • Strong focus on reading with high-quality books, trained staff, and family engagement events
  • Excellent behaviour with clear expectations and kind relationships between adults and pupils
  • Rich provision for early years with many indoor and outdoor learning opportunities
  • Effective support for pupils with SEND who are fully included alongside their peers
  • Wide range of enrichment activities including music, clubs, and leadership opportunities

Areas for Improvement

  • Art and design curriculum lacks clarity about what pupils should learn in each year group, resulting in knowledge gaps
  • Some subjects do not have clearly identified knowledge objectives for each year

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective with thorough checks on staff suitability, staff awareness of local risks, and strong engagement with families and outside agencies.

Extracurricular Activities

school choir, glockenspiel lessons, individual instrument tuition, drama club, book club, film club, sporting activities, before- and after-school club

Upperthong Junior and Infant School continues to be a good school where pupils flourish in a kind, respectful environment with a broad and interesting curriculum.

At a Glance

6.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+9ppMaths-11ppWriting-1pp

Reading has improved from 78% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 88% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025).

Class Sizes

29.9

Avg class size

28.0

Infant (KS1)

31.3

KS2

7

Total classes

3 classes with more than 30 pupils

2025/26 academic year

How Does This School Compare?

Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools

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Keep up with Upperthong Junior and Infant School

Term dates

Upperthong Junior and Infant School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Kirklees. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.

2026 to 2027

  • Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
  • Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
  • Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)

2027 to 2028

  • Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
  • Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2028)
  • Summer term: Monday 24 April to Tuesday 25 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)

Source: Kirklees term dates

Getting There

Bus Stops

Upperthong School (stop)
68m · 1 min walk
Burnlee Rd Park Head Lane (before)
108m · 2 min walk
Burnlee Rd Burnside Drive (at)
114m · 2 min walk
Spring Lane (at)
132m · 2 min walk
Ash Grove Road (on)
214m · 3 min walk

Free school transport

Check free transport to Upperthong Junior and Infant School from your postcode →

You apply to the council where you live. Upperthong Junior and Infant School is in Kirklees; for families living there:

Safety and surroundings

Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)

Collisions
5
Fatal
0
Serious
1
Children hurt
0

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, 1 serious and 4 slight.

No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.

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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 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.

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Commute and house prices

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Your chances of a place at Upperthong Junior and Infant School

Will you get a place at Upperthong Junior and Infant School? Get the admissions report

Your home postcode, set against Upperthong Junior and Infant School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.

What the report includes for Upperthong Junior and Infant School:

  • The straight-line distance from your home to Upperthong Junior and Infant School.
  • We hold no last distance offered figures from Kirklees, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
  • Applications, first choices and offers at Upperthong Junior and Infant School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
  • How many families in Kirklees 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

96%

Near capacity

202 pupils

210 places

8 spare places in 2025

2025, DfE school capacity data

Area Demand Pressure - Holmfirth

Low pressure
New homes approved:380
Projected new pupils:95

Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Holmfirth

Across Kirklees council

Low demand council-wide0.84 applications per place

Places available

5,437

Applications

4,554

Got 1st preference

93.8%

Got preferred school

99.3%

All primary applications across Kirklees council (2026/27), not just this school.

This school: Every first choice offered

Inspection History(6)

22 February 2023

Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.

20 September 2017
6 December 2012
Leadership & ManagementGood

SEND & SEN Provision

SEN Overview

20

SEN Support

11

EHC Plans

14.8%

of Total Pupils

2026 academic year

Provision & Specialist Facilities

No specialist provision recorded

Pupils by Need Type

Social, Emotional & Mental Health11
Speech, Language & Communication8
Specific Learning Difficulty2
Moderate Learning Difficulty2
Autistic Spectrum Disorder1
Other1
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
90.0%
Asian
0.5%
Black
1.0%
Mixed
6.2%
Unclassified
1.4%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals6.2%
English as Additional Language1.0%

209

Total Pupils

105

Boys

104

Girls

2026 academic year

Workforce

12

Teachers

17.4:1

Pupil-teacher ratio

£52,042

Mean salary

2026 data

School Funding

£5,038

Per pupil

£1115k

Total funding

£21k

Pupil premium

Deprivation£23,530
EAL funding£661
Lump sum£145,125

2025-26 financial year allocations

Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.1%

Overall absence

4.9%

Persistent absence

184

Enrolments

Authorised2.4%
Unauthorised0.7%
Persistent (10%+)4.9%
Severe (50%+)0.0%

Absence trend

2.7%
18/19
1.8%
20/21
4.5%
21/22
3.5%
22/23
2.8%
23/24
3.1%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

Secondary Schools Nearby

Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to

Questions parents ask about Upperthong Junior and Infant School

What are SATs results like at Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

Of the pupils at Upperthong Junior and Infant School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.

What is Upperthong Junior and Infant School's Ofsted rating?

Upperthong Junior and Infant School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2012, it was rated Good.

What is the catchment area for Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

No fixed boundary. When Upperthong Junior and Infant School is oversubscribed, Kirklees allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.

Is it hard to get a place at Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

Upperthong Junior and Infant School was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.

How big are the classes at Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

Classes at Upperthong Junior and Infant School average 29.9 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.

How many pupils go to Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

Upperthong Junior and Infant School has around 209 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.

What is attendance like at Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

3.1% of sessions were missed at Upperthong Junior and Infant School in 2024/25. 4.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).

How do I apply to Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

Apply through Kirklees's coordinated admissions process, naming Upperthong Junior and Infant 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.

What are Upperthong Junior and Infant School's term dates?

Upperthong Junior and Infant School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Kirklees. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Tuesday 25 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).

How many road collisions happen near Upperthong Junior and Infant 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, 1 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 schools, same distance and years).

Where is Upperthong Junior and Infant School?

Upperthong Junior and Infant School is at Burnlee Road, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 2LE.

Sources: Kirklees term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)

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