Academy converter · Wakefield

Ark Orchard Head Primary School

3–11Ages
335Pupils
PrimaryPhase
139503URN

Orchard Head Lane, Pontefract, WF8 2NJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodNov 2019

Improved significantlyUngraded inspection · Mar 2025

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

0.3 below Wakefield median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Wakefield

92 applications for 45 places · 64th of 100 in Wakefield

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

89%met the expected standard

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodNov 2019

Improved significantlyUngraded inspection · Mar 2025

The graded inspection, 7 November 2019Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Inspection history

12 March 2025
Ungraded inspection: Improved significantly
7 November 2019
Graded inspection: 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

2.0applications per place, Reception

0.3 below Wakefield median (2.3) close to England median (2.2)

92 applications · 45 places offered · 55 named it first

2026 2.0; Wakefield median median 2.3
2025 2.9; Wakefield median median 2.2
2024 2.2; Wakefield median median 2.4
2023 1.9; Wakefield median median 1.9
2022 1.9; Wakefield median median 1.8
2021 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.8
2020 2.1; Wakefield median median 1.9
2019 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.8
2018 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.9
2017 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.9
2016 1.3; Wakefield median median 1.9
2015 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.8
2014 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.9

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	45	92	2.0	55	1.22
Sep 2025	42	120	2.9	60	1.43
Sep 2024	42	93	2.2	41	0.98
Sep 2023	44	84	1.9	49	1.11
Sep 2022	45	86	1.9	54	1.20
Sep 2021	44	71	1.6	33	0.75
Sep 2020	44	94	2.1	54	1.23
Sep 2019	45	74	1.6	42	0.93
Sep 2018	44	72	1.6	42	0.95
Sep 2017	44	78	1.8	51	1.16
Sep 2016	45	59	1.3	41	0.91
Sep 2015	42	58	1.4	37	0.88
Sep 2014	43	58	1.4	41	0.95

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 96% · Writing 89% · Maths 96% → all three 89% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard89%8th of 98 in Wakefield

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard96%

Wakefield 76% England 78%

Higher standard46%

Wakefield 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard89%

Wakefield 77% England 75%

Greater depth39%

Wakefield 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard96%

Wakefield 77% England 77%

Higher standard70%

Wakefield 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 112 (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	89%	26%	109	112
2023/24	88%	16%	108	108
2022/23	64%	7%	104	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

Ark Orchard Head Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Improved significantly2025

2.0applications per place 89%met the SATs standard
Willow Green Academy
1.4 km · Wakefield

Remains Good · improving2023

2.0applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
St Giles C of E Academy
1.5 km · Wakefield

Improved significantly2025

1.9applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
1.5 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2022

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

Requires improvement2024

2.6applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Ark De Lacy Primary School
1.9 km · Wakefield

Outstanding2024

2.2applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract
2.0 km · Wakefield

Good2024

2.7applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Airedale Junior Academy
2.2 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2023

62%met the SATs standard
Airedale Infant Academy
2.2 km · Wakefield

Standards maintained2025

2.2applications per place

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139503 · 384/2094
Trust: Ark Schools
Capacity: 315 pupils · 335 on roll
Free school meals: 23.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2013
Replaced: Pontefract Orchard Head Junior and Infant School (URN 108173)
Address: Orchard Head Lane, Pontefract, WF8 2NJ
Local authority: Wakefield

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