Academy converter · Wakefield

Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School

3–11Ages
434Pupils
PrimaryPhase
139502URN

Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 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

1.8per place

0.5 below Wakefield median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Wakefield

89 applications for 49 places · 78th of 100 in Wakefield

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

93%met the expected standard

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 20 May 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

20 May 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
25 April 2024
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Improving)

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

1.8applications per place, Reception

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

89 applications · 49 places offered · 43 named it first

2026 1.8; Wakefield median median 2.3
2025 2.1; Wakefield median median 2.2
2024 1.9; Wakefield median median 2.4
2023 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.9
2022 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.8
2021 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.8
2020 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.9
2019 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.8
2018 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.9
2017 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.9
2016 1.7; Wakefield median median 1.9
2015 1.5; Wakefield median median 1.8
2014 1.6; 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	49	89	1.8	43	0.88
Sep 2025	49	103	2.1	37	0.76
Sep 2024	55	102	1.9	54	0.98
Sep 2023	49	76	1.6	40	0.82
Sep 2022	53	93	1.8	48	0.91
Sep 2021	58	95	1.6	55	0.95
Sep 2020	60	108	1.8	56	0.93
Sep 2019	57	82	1.4	47	0.82
Sep 2018	60	85	1.4	51	0.85
Sep 2017	60	105	1.8	50	0.83
Sep 2016	60	99	1.7	68	1.13
Sep 2015	60	87	1.5	57	0.95
Sep 2014	59	95	1.6	58	0.98

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 97% · Writing 95% · Maths 95% → all three 93% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard93%3rd of 98 in Wakefield

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard97%

Wakefield 76% England 78%

Higher standard72%

Wakefield 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 111 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard95%

Wakefield 77% England 75%

Greater depth36%

Wakefield 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard95%

Wakefield 77% England 77%

Higher standard52%

Wakefield 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 110 (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	93%	26%	111	110
2023/24	88%	28%	112	110
2022/23	90%	17%	112	111

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

Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 93%met the SATs standard
New College Pontefract
0.4 km · Wakefield

Not yet inspected
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract
0.6 km · Wakefield

Good2024

2.7applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Ark Larks Hill Primary School
1.0 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.1applications per place 97%met the SATs standard
St Giles C of E Academy
1.1 km · Wakefield

Improved significantly2025

1.9applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Ark Carleton Park Primary School
1.4 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.2applications per place 87%met the SATs standard
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School
1.7 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy
2.1 km · Wakefield

Standards maintained2025

2.2applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Ark De Lacy Primary School
2.2 km · Wakefield

Outstanding2024

2.2applications per place 80%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139502 · 384/2147
Trust: Ark Schools
Capacity: 420 pupils · 434 on roll
Free school meals: 20.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2013
Replaced: Pontefract Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School (URN 108204)
Address: Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BW
Local authority: Wakefield

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources