Academy converter · Wakefield

The Vale Primary Academy

3–11Ages
218Pupils
PrimaryPhase
138332URN

Ferrybridge Road, Knottingley, WF11 8JF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.7per place

0.4 above Wakefield median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Wakefield

72 applications for 27 places · 28th of 100 in Wakefield

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

76%met the expected standard

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 3 December 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.7applications per place, Reception

0.4 above Wakefield median (2.3) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

72 applications · 27 places offered · 26 named it first

2026 2.7; Wakefield median median 2.3
2025 2.7; Wakefield median median 2.2
2024 3.4; Wakefield median median 2.4
2023 2.3; Wakefield median median 1.9
2022 2.4; Wakefield median median 1.8
2021 2.3; Wakefield median median 1.8
2020 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.9
2019 2.8; Wakefield median median 1.8
2018 2.1; Wakefield median median 1.9
2017 3.0; Wakefield median median 1.9
2016 2.6; Wakefield median median 1.9
2015 2.4; Wakefield median median 1.8
2014 2.3; Wakefield median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Wakefield median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Wakefield median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	27	72	2.7	26	0.96
Sep 2025	30	81	2.7	27	0.90
Sep 2024	21	71	3.4	19	0.90
Sep 2023	29	66	2.3	43	1.48
Sep 2022	30	71	2.4	37	1.23
Sep 2021	30	68	2.3	40	1.33
Sep 2020	30	61	2.0	31	1.03
Sep 2019	30	85	2.8	42	1.40
Sep 2018	30	63	2.1	29	0.97
Sep 2017	29	87	3.0	50	1.72
Sep 2016	30	77	2.6	34	1.13
Sep 2015	30	73	2.4	40	1.33
Sep 2014	32	74	2.3	40	1.25

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 80% · Writing 80% · Maths 80% → all three 76% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard76%28th of 98 in Wakefield

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard80%

Wakefield 76% England 78%

Higher standard20%

Wakefield 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard80%

Wakefield 77% England 75%

Greater depth12%

Wakefield 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard80%

Wakefield 77% England 77%

Higher standard24%

Wakefield 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Wakefield median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	76%	8%	104	104
2023/24	74%	7%	108	105
2022/23	77%	13%	109	107

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Vale Primary AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
Simpson's Lane Academy
0.9 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
England Lane Academy
1.3 km · Wakefield

Outstanding2024

2.6applications per place 85%met the SATs standard
Willow Green Academy
1.3 km · Wakefield

Remains Good · improving2023

2.0applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
St Botolphs CE Academy
1.4 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Brotherton and Byram Community Primary Academy
1.6 km · North Yorkshire

Remains Good2023

1.4applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Ark Orchard Head Primary School
2.5 km · Wakefield

Improved significantly2025

2.0applications per place 89%met the SATs standard
Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
2.6 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2022

2.8applications per place 35%met the SATs standard
Cherry Tree Academy
2.7 km · Wakefield

Requires improvement2024

2.6applications per place 49%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 138332 · 384/2100
Trust: Delta Academies Trust
Capacity: 236 pupils · 218 on roll
Free school meals: 21.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 July 2012
Replaced: Knottingley Vale Junior and Infant School (URN 108177)
Address: Ferrybridge Road, Knottingley, WF11 8JF
Local authority: Wakefield

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources