SchoolScoresCastleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Francis Street, Castleford, WF10 1HF
01977 553528 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 April 2015.
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 May 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Castleford comparisons use the 8 of its 15 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 | Castleford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Castleford. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Castleford. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Castleford. Higher than 13% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 85% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 10 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Castleford. Higher than 1% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 20% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Castleford. Higher than 8% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 61% | 75% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Castleford. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72%said yes | 84% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Castleford figures pool parents at the Castleford 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 33 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 30 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 80 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 12th highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.7% | 27.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.9% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.9% | 15.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.2% | 14.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Lower than 28% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.5% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Lower than 59% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Lower than 52% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 41% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.9 | 22.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 51% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.8 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 15th highest of 15 state primary schools in Castleford. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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 Castleford 0.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Castleford Park Junior Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Glasshoughton Infant Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Half Acres Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Smawthorne Henry Moore Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020, before conversion) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Castleford Three Lane Ends Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Airedale Infant Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Townville Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- Airedale Junior Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ackton Pastures Primary Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 April 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 May 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Would parents recommend Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery?
72% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 30 families put Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery as their first choice for 33 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 30 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 108236.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.