Academy converter · Knowsley

Halsnead Primary School

3–11Ages
252Pupils
PrimaryPhase
144105URN

Pennywood Drive, Whiston, Prescot, L35 3TX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

0.5 above Knowsley median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Knowsley

57 applications for 24 places · 13th of 48 in Knowsley

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

66%met the expected standard

Knowsley 59% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 3 July 2023Ofsted'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

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

2.4applications per place, Reception

0.5 above Knowsley median (1.9) close to England median (2.2)

57 applications · 24 places offered · 23 named it first

2026 2.4; Knowsley median median 1.9
2025 2.1; Knowsley median median 1.9
2024 1.5; Knowsley median median 1.8
2023 1.6; Knowsley median median 1.9
2022 1.8; Knowsley median median 1.8
2021 1.8; Knowsley median median 1.7
2020 1.4; Knowsley median median 1.8
2019 1.3; Knowsley median median 1.8
2018 1.3; Knowsley median median 1.9
2017 1.4; Knowsley median median 1.8
2016 1.7; Knowsley median median 1.9; as the previous school
2015 1.7; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 1.7; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school

This school
Knowsley median

Dashed bars: as Halsnead Community Primary School (URN 104426), the previous school.

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	24	57	2.4	23	0.96
Sep 2025	28	58	2.1	27	0.96
Sep 2024	30	46	1.5	30	1.00
Sep 2023	27	42	1.6	26	0.96
Sep 2022	27	49	1.8	27	1.00
Sep 2021	30	53	1.8	28	0.93
Sep 2020	33	46	1.4	29	0.88
Sep 2019	42	55	1.3	30	0.71
Sep 2018	41	53	1.3	37	0.90
Sep 2017	53	72	1.4	37	0.70
Sep 2016 *	41	69	1.7	28	0.68
Sep 2015 *	34	58	1.7	31	0.91
Sep 2014 *	48	83	1.7	46	0.96

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 84% · Writing 68% · Maths 70% → all three 66% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard66%15th of 48 in Knowsley

Knowsley 59% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard84%

Knowsley 75% England 78%

Higher standard52%

Knowsley 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard68%

Knowsley 69% England 75%

Greater depth5%

Knowsley 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard70%

Knowsley 72% England 77%

Higher standard50%

Knowsley 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Knowsley median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	66%	5%	108	106
2023/24	78%	0%	107	104
2022/23	60%	2%	104	103

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

Halsnead Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.4applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
St Leo's and Southmead Catholic Primary School Serving the Community
0.5 km · Knowsley

Remains Good2023

1.3applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Whiston Willis Primary Academy
0.6 km · Knowsley

Outstanding2024

2.3applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
St Mary and St Paul's CofE Primary School
1.0 km · Knowsley

Good2023

1.6applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
St Luke's Catholic Primary School
1.0 km · Knowsley

2026

1.6applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Willow Tree Primary School
1.5 km · Knowsley

Good2023

1.2applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
St Gabriel's CofE Primary School
1.8 km · Knowsley

Good2024

1.3applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Prescot Primary School
1.9 km · Knowsley

Good2022

2.0applications per place
Longton Lane Community Primary School
2.1 km · St. Helens

Remains Good2024

2.0applications per place 61%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 144105 · 340/2012
Trust: The Heath Family (NORTH West)
Capacity: 420 pupils · 252 on roll
Free school meals: 42.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 June 2017
Replaced: Halsnead Community Primary School (URN 104426)
Address: Pennywood Drive, Whiston, Prescot, L35 3TX
Local authority: Knowsley

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