Northowram Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Baxter Lane, Northowram, Halifax, HX3 7EF

01422 202704 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 5 November 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths70%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 12th highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 64% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils451Room for 420 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 462 in 2019, 456 in 2021, 445 in 2022, 439 in 2023, 452 in 2024, 448 in 2025, 451 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.272 for 60 places, September 2026
Joint 2nd highest of 42 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 90% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 5 November 2024, 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

87 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Halifax comparisons use the 18 of its 41 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 23 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.

StatementThis schoolHalifaxEngland
My child is happy at this school
10th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 86% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 10th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 88% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
12th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84% 83% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied
8th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 22% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
43% 44% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 55 parents who had raised a concern
9th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 34% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78% 71% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 20 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 33% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65% 56% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 7th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Halifax.
Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87%said yes 82% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). 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. Halifax figures pool parents at the Halifax 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

60 pupils in this year group.

70% — 8 points above the Calderdale average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCalderdaleEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 70% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 5% 6% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 88% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 80% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 78% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 106 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 68%This school 2023/24: 72%This school 2024/25: 70% This school England 62% 2022/23 68% 2023/24 72% 2024/25 70%

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 Calderdale. 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered60
Families who put it first72
Of those, offered a place59 (82%)
Families who listed it at all128

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.2

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Calderdale

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCalderdaleEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
31st highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.8% 28.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
24th highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.2% 4.8%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
17th highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
15.4% 14.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
39th highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.7% 15.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.2% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.5% 11.2%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
16th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Lower than 49% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.1 2.8 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
26th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Lower than 36% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.1% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
12th highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 80% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
23.3 21.6 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
7th highest of 41 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
13.1 10.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
14th highest of 35 state primary schools in Halifax.
Higher than 60% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
15.6% 15.8%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Northowram Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 5 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Northowram Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Northowram Primary School?

87% of the 87 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Northowram Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Northowram Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 72 families put Northowram Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 59 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.