SchoolScoresArk Halfpenny Lane Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of ARK SCHOOLS
Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BW
01977 703270 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
74 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Pontefract comparisons use the 18 of its 36 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 18 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Pontefract | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 12th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 12th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 49 parents who had raised a concern Joint 10th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 34% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 76% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 32 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 73% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 82% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 7th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pontefract. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 84% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 17%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Pontefract figures pool parents at the Pontefract schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
58 pupils in this year group.
93% — 30 points above the Wakefield average, and 31 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 93% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 26% | 9% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 97% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 95% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 95% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 111 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Wakefield. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 49 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 89 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 21st highest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.0% | 27.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 34th highest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.8% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 19th highest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.7% | 15.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 21st highest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 14.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 88% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.5% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.7 | 22.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 8th highest of 36 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 14th highest of 35 state primary schools in Pontefract. Higher than 68% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 18.1% | 15.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark Larks Hill Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 97% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Giles CofE Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), improved significantly 2025 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark Carleton Park Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark De Lacy Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark the Rookeries Carleton Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cherry Tree Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 31 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School?
88% of the 74 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School as their first choice for 49 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 43 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139502.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.