West Vale Academy, Halifax
West Vale Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Halifax, part of Great Heights Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 42 schools in Halifax with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 46% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Calderdale (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
West Vale Academy in detail
West Vale Academy in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at West Vale Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Calderdale and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (85% in reading, 85% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at West Vale Academy
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put West Vale Academy as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 3 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to West Vale Academy are St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 47% reading, 67% maths); Elland Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Junior, Infant and Nursery School (0.6 miles, Good, 41% reading, 29% maths); Cross Lane Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 69% maths); and The Greetland Academy (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 97% maths).
West Vale Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Patrick's Catholic Primary AcademyElland Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Junior, Infant and Nursery SchoolCross Lane Primary and Nursery SchoolThe Greetland Academy
The trust
West Vale Academy is one of 9 schools run by Great Heights Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
44.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Mixed (12%).
In 2026, 27 pupils (36.5%) received SEN support and 10 (13.5%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Staffing
West Vale Academy had 3 teachers in 2026, one for every 28 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Halifax Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is West Vale, 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
West Vale Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to West Vale Academy are The Brooksbank School (0.5 miles) and Park Lane Academy (0.8 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 11 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
West Vale Academy excels at making every child feel known and valued in a caring, family-like environment. The school is particularly strong at supporting pupils with additional needs through thoughtful adaptations and emotional support that helps them succeed alongside their classmates. Teachers work well with mixed-age classes and have successfully helped disadvantaged pupils achieve above national averages.
Key Strengths
- Strong support for pupils with additional needs and SEND, including thoughtful daily adjustments and sensory support
- Effective teaching of phonics and focus on developing pupils' vocabulary and speaking confidence
- Successful narrowing of the attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils
- Calm, positive behaviour managed consistently by staff
- Caring relationships where pupils feel they belong and are known individually
Areas for Improvement
- In the wider curriculum, tasks sometimes don't help pupils use and embed key knowledge they have been taught
- Some adults in early years don't make the most of opportunities to develop children's vocabulary and deepen their thinking
- Need to continue strengthening pupils' mathematical fluency
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits (Chester Zoo), school events, trips, clubs
West Vale Academy is a small school serving a mixed-age community with a strong commitment to inclusion and supporting all learners. Pupils achieve well from their starting points, with particular success in narrowing the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils.
At a Glance
44.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 80% to 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.7
Avg class size
25.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with West Vale Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to West Vale Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. West Vale Academy is in Calderdale; for families living there:
Apply to Calderdale for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 12 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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 Calderdale is 12 (the median across 114 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.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at West Vale Academy
Will you get a place at West Vale Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against West Vale Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for West Vale Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to West Vale Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Calderdale, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at West Vale Academy for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Calderdale 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
46%
Available places
84 pupils
182 places
98 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Halifax
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Halifax
Across Calderdale council
Places available
2,848
Applications
1,863
Got 1st preference
96.6%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Calderdale council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
50.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
74
Total Pupils
35
Boys
39
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
24.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,174
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,847
Per pupil
£667k
Total funding
£53k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
12.7%
Persistent absence
79
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
West Vale Academy
Questions parents ask about West Vale Academy
What are SATs results like at West Vale Academy?
Of the pupils at West Vale Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is West Vale Academy's Ofsted rating?
West Vale Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2025, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for West Vale Academy?
No fixed boundary. When West Vale Academy is oversubscribed, Calderdale allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at West Vale Academy?
West Vale Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 46% of its 182 places.
How big are the classes at West Vale Academy?
Classes at West Vale Academy average 24.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to West Vale Academy?
West Vale Academy has around 74 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at West Vale Academy?
6% of sessions were missed at West Vale Academy in 2024/25. 12.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to West Vale Academy?
Apply through Calderdale's coordinated admissions process, naming West Vale Academy 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.
How many road collisions happen near West Vale Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 12 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Calderdale is 12 (the median across 114 schools, same distance and years).
Where is West Vale Academy?
West Vale Academy is at Stainland Road, West Vale, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX4 8LS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)