Baildon Glen Primary School

About Baildon Glen Primary School

Baildon Glen Primary School is a mixed, state primary in Bradford with a current roll of 155 pupils against a capacity of 210, meaning there is room for around 55 more children. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Despite the available capacity, demand is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 36 applications for just 11 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.27 to one. All 11 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the remaining 25 families who applied will have looked elsewhere. The school is led by headteacher Joanna Jackson and has no religious character. It offers nursery provision for children from age three, and its facilities include a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, and an ICT suite.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, just 21% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — far below the local authority average of 59%. Only 3% achieved the higher standard in that combined measure. Individual subject scores were mixed: 69% met the expected standard in writing, but only 31% in reading and 55% in maths. The school ranks 152nd out of 153 primary schools in Bradford, placing it in the bottom 1% nationally. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025 judged the school as 'Requires Improvement' overall, though inspectors rated early years provision, personal development, and leadership and management as 'Good'. Behaviour and attitudes, and the quality of education, were both rated 'Requires Improvement'. This represents an improvement from the previous inspection in 2021, when the school was rated 'Inadequate'.

The school provides a wide range of SEND support, covering areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disabilities. Parent views from a 13-respondent survey were mixed: 54% would recommend the school, but 46% would not. While 69% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, 30% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Responses on behaviour and bullying were notably split, with 15% of parents disagreeing that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively. The school offers clubs including choir, chess, gardening, drama, book club and film club, plus sports such as netball, tennis, cricket and football. For families considering Baildon Glen, the nearest outstanding-rated alternative is Baildon Church of England Primary School, 2.6 km away. This school may suit parents who value its improving Ofsted trajectory and broad SEND provision, but who are prepared for below-average academic outcomes and a divided parent community.

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