SchoolScoresSandal Castle VA Community Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Barnsley Road, Wakefield, WF2 6AS
01924 303525 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 7 January 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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
96 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Wakefield comparisons use the 62 of its 113 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 51 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 | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 58th highest of 62 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 58th highest of 62 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 59th highest of 62 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 35 parents whose child had been bullied 39th highest of 44 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 7% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 31% | 49% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 87 parents who had raised a concern 56th highest of 59 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 5% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55% | 76% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 26 parents of children with SEND 18th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 7% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 70% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 59th highest of 62 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wakefield. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Wakefield figures pool parents at the Wakefield 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
88 pupils in this year group.
45% — 18 points below the Wakefield average, and 17 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 45% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 9% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 55% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 64% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 61% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 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 | 68 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 55 |
| Of those, offered a place | 55 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 141 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Wakefield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 55th highest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.6% | 27.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 38th highest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 17th highest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.9% | 15.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 33.7% | 14.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 64th lowest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 38% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 63rd lowest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 39% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.7% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 59th lowest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.8 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 69th lowest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.32% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 34th highest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 85% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.9 | 22.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 45th highest of 113 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 64% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.5 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 84th highest of 111 state primary schools in Wakefield. Higher than 36% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.0% | 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
- Sandal Magna Community Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Walton Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hendal Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Mount Junior Infant and Nursery School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wakefield St Marys CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crigglestone St James CofE Primary Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wakefield Lawefield Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Outwood Primary Academy Greenhill 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 7 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 45% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 17 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School?
63% of the 96 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 55 families put Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School as their first choice for 68 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 55 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 108270.
- 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.