Academy sponsor led · Wakefield

Ark Northfield Primary School

3–11Ages
348Pupils
PrimaryPhase
150309URN

Northfield Lane, South Kirkby, Pontefract, WF9 3LY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2022 Previous framework

Requires improvement

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

70 applications for 45 places · 95th of 100 in Wakefield

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

83%met the expected standard

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 8 March 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement
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

1.6applications per place, Reception

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

70 applications · 45 places offered · 46 named it first

2026 1.6; Wakefield median median 2.3
2025 1.6; Wakefield median median 2.2
2024 1.7; Wakefield median median 2.4
2023 1.5; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school
2022 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.8; as the previous school
2021 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.8; as the previous school
2020 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school
2019 1.3; Wakefield median median 1.8; as the previous school
2018 1.4; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school
2017 1.9; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school
2016 1.6; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school
2015 2.0; Wakefield median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 1.8; Wakefield median median 1.9; as the previous school

This school
Wakefield median

Dashed bars: as Northfield Primary School: With Communication Resource (URN 130859), Northfield Middle School (URN 108290), 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	45	70	1.6	46	1.02
Sep 2025	42	66	1.6	39	0.93
Sep 2024	44	74	1.7	42	0.95
Sep 2023 *	42	61	1.5	49	1.17
Sep 2022 *	39	53	1.4	37	0.95
Sep 2021 *	39	56	1.4	39	1.00
Sep 2020 *	44	69	1.6	47	1.07
Sep 2019 *	45	60	1.3	48	1.07
Sep 2018 *	43	61	1.4	46	1.07
Sep 2017 *	44	82	1.9	55	1.25
Sep 2016 *	45	74	1.6	51	1.13
Sep 2015 *	43	85	2.0	57	1.33
Sep 2014 *	45	79	1.8	51	1.13

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 88% · Writing 85% · Maths 83% → all three 83% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard83%17th of 98 in Wakefield

Wakefield 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard88%

Wakefield 76% England 78%

Higher standard54%

Wakefield 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard85%

Wakefield 77% England 75%

Greater depth31%

Wakefield 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard83%

Wakefield 77% England 77%

Higher standard48%

Wakefield 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 109 (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	83%	27%	109	109
2023/24
2022/23

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 Northfield Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Requires improvement2022

1.6applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
South Kirkby Academy
1.1 km · Wakefield

Good2023

32%met the SATs standard
South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School
1.2 km · Wakefield

2025

1.5applications per place
Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource
1.2 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2024

3.1applications per place 35%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe
1.2 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2022

1.9applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School
1.8 km · Wakefield

Good2022

1.9applications per place 51%met the SATs standard
Ash Grove Primary Academy
2.2 km · Wakefield

Good2023

2.3applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Grove Lea Primary School
2.6 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.5applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
2.9 km · Wakefield

Good2022

3.3applications per place 30%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 sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 150309 · 384/2043
Trust: Ark Schools
Capacity: 315 pupils · 348 on roll
Free school meals: 22.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 December 2023
Replaced: Northfield Primary School: With Communication Resource (URN 130859); Northfield Middle School (URN 108290)
Address: Northfield Lane, South Kirkby, Pontefract, WF9 3LY
Local authority: Wakefield

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