Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy

About Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy

Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy sits in a very different position to the average primary school in Bradford. While the local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 is 59 per cent, Barkerend’s figure is 82 per cent – a gap of 23 percentage points. That puts the school sixth out of 153 primaries in the Bradford local authority, placing it comfortably in the top ten. The school’s overall ranking score of 82 reflects strong performance across the board, and it also ranks well within the top ten per cent nationally. This is a school that is clearly outperforming its local peers by a significant margin, and the data suggests that this isn’t a fluke – it’s backed up by consistent results across individual subjects too.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is one of strength across the core subjects. In reading, 93 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with 35 per cent reaching the higher standard. Writing saw 87 per cent at expected and 20 per cent at higher, while maths had 85 per cent at expected and 25 per cent at higher. The average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 106 in maths, both above the national average of 100. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection, in 2019, rated the school Outstanding overall, with Outstanding for leadership and management and for early years provision. The most recent ungraded inspection, in June 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained. This is a notable turnaround from the school’s previous Requires Improvement rating in 2014, and the trajectory is clearly upward.

Barkerend is a larger-than-average primary with 553 pupils on roll, operating close to its capacity of 630. It is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry there were 137 applications for 56 places, a ratio of 2.45 applicants per place, and all 51 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The school has a nursery provision and caters for children from age three. Free school meal eligibility stands at 35.2 per cent, above the national average, and the school has a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and hearing or visual impairments. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive – 98 per cent of respondents would recommend the school, and 83 per cent strongly agreed that their child is happy there. Facilities include a library, sports hall, playing fields and a chapel, with clubs covering coding, film and chess. For families in Bradford seeking a high-performing, well-regarded primary with strong SEND support, Barkerend is a clear contender.

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