Academy converter · Wakefield

Simpson's Lane Academy

3–11Ages
387Pupils
PrimaryPhase
138535URN

Sycamore Avenue, Knottingley, WF11 0PJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 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

1.6per place

0.7 below Wakefield median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Wakefield

66 applications for 41 places · 92nd of 100 in Wakefield

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

84%met the expected standard

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 June 2025Ofsted'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

Inspection history

24 June 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
12 December 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

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

1.6applications per place, Reception

0.7 below Wakefield median (2.3) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

66 applications · 41 places offered · 41 named it first

2026 1.6; Wakefield median median 2.3
2025 1.4; Wakefield median median 2.2
2024 1.4; Wakefield median median 2.4
2023 1.0; Wakefield median median 1.9
2022 1.2; Wakefield median median 1.8
2021 1.2; Wakefield median median 1.8
2020 1.0; Wakefield median median 1.9
2019 1.0; Wakefield median median 1.8
2018 1.5; Wakefield median median 1.9
2017 1.2; Wakefield median median 1.9
2016 1.1; Wakefield median median 1.9
2015 1.1; Wakefield median median 1.8
2014 1.3; Wakefield median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Wakefield median in 0 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	41	66	1.6	41	1.00
Sep 2025	47	65	1.4	43	0.91
Sep 2024	36	52	1.4	34	0.94
Sep 2023	32	33	1.0	25	0.78
Sep 2022	34	39	1.2	30	0.88
Sep 2021	33	40	1.2	31	0.94
Sep 2020	36	36	1.0	32	0.89
Sep 2019	42	41	1.0	33	0.79
Sep 2018	29	44	1.5	29	1.00
Sep 2017	30	35	1.2	23	0.77
Sep 2016	42	44	1.1	38	0.90
Sep 2015	45	48	1.1	44	0.98
Sep 2014	47	62	1.3	49	1.04

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 84% · Writing 84% · Maths 84% → all three 84% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard84%15th of 98 in Wakefield

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard84%

Wakefield 76% England 78%

Higher standard50%

Wakefield 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard84%

Wakefield 77% England 75%

Greater depth23%

Wakefield 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard84%

Wakefield 77% England 77%

Higher standard50%

Wakefield 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 108 (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	84%	11%	107	108
2023/24	77%	12%	108	106
2022/23	77%	8%	105	105

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

Simpson's Lane AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
The Vale Primary Academy
0.9 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
England Lane Academy
1.2 km · Wakefield

Outstanding2024

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

Remains Good · improving2023

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

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
2.0 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2022

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

Requires improvement2024

2.6applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Brotherton and Byram Community Primary Academy
2.4 km · North Yorkshire

Remains Good2023

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

Improved significantly2025

2.0applications per place 89%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 138535 · 384/2101
Trust: Delta Academies Trust
Capacity: 577 pupils · 387 on roll
Free school meals: 54.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 August 2012
Replaced: Knottingley Simpson's Lane Junior and Infant School (URN 108178); Knottingley Throstle Farm Junior and Infant School (URN 108190)
Address: Sycamore Avenue, Knottingley, WF11 0PJ
Local authority: Wakefield

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