Academy converter · Wakefield

Ackworth Mill Dam School

3–11Ages
225Pupils
PrimaryPhase
144563URN

Mill Gate, Ackworth, Pontefract, WF7 7PH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected May 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

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

65 applications for 24 places · 23rd of 100 in Wakefield

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

68%met the expected standard

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 6 May 2026Published 17 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching		Expected standard
Achievement		Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years		Expected standard
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance		Expected standard

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

6 May 2026
Report card · 7 Expected standard
20 January 2022
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

2.7applications per place, Reception

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

65 applications · 24 places offered · 23 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 2.7; Wakefield median median 2.3
2025 2.4; Wakefield median median 2.2
2024 2.9; Wakefield median median 2.4
2023 2.8; Wakefield median median 1.9
2022 2.3; Wakefield median median 1.8
2021 2.3; Wakefield median median 1.8
2020 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.9
2019 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.8
2018 2.8; Wakefield median median 1.9
2017 3.0; Wakefield median median 1.9
2016 2.4; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school
2015 2.1; Wakefield median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 2.2; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Wakefield median in 9 of 10 years.

This school
Wakefield median

Dashed bars: as Ackworth Mill Dam Junior and Infant School (URN 130966), 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	65	2.7	23	0.96
Sep 2025	29	70	2.4	26	0.90
Sep 2024	28	82	2.9	26	0.93
Sep 2023	30	84	2.8	38	1.27
Sep 2022	29	67	2.3	34	1.17
Sep 2021	30	69	2.3	25	0.83
Sep 2020	26	51	2.0	25	0.96
Sep 2019	26	46	1.8	24	0.92
Sep 2018	18	51	2.8	29	1.61
Sep 2017	19	57	3.0	23	1.21
Sep 2016 *	18	44	2.4	18	1.00
Sep 2015 *	16	34	2.1	14	0.88
Sep 2014 *	17	37	2.2	17	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 76% · Writing 84% · Maths 72% → all three 68% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard68%43rd of 98 in Wakefield

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard76%

Wakefield 76% England 78%

Higher standard44%

Wakefield 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard84%

Wakefield 77% England 75%

Greater depth28%

Wakefield 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard72%

Wakefield 77% England 77%

Higher standard36%

Wakefield 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (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	68%	24%	107	105
2023/24	69%	4%	102	106
2022/23	56%	13%	102	106

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

Ackworth Mill Dam SchoolThis school
This school

2026

2.7applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane
0.6 km · Wakefield

Good2022

2.0applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
1.0 km · Wakefield

Good2024

2.5applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Badsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
2.6 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2023

2.9applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Fitzwilliam Primary School
2.9 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
King's Meadow Academy
3.1 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
West End Academy
3.6 km · Wakefield

Improved significantly2024

2.3applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Featherstone Purston Infant School
3.7 km · Wakefield

Good2023

1.5applications per place
Featherstone Girnhill Infant School
3.8 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2024

2.0applications per place

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 144563 · 384/2201
Trust: Waterton Academy Trust
Capacity: 236 pupils · 225 on roll
Free school meals: 14.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 July 2017
Replaced: Ackworth Mill Dam Junior and Infant School (URN 130966)
Address: Mill Gate, Ackworth, Pontefract, WF7 7PH
Local authority: Wakefield

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