Barkisland CofE VA Primary School

About Barkisland CofE VA Primary School

Barkisland CofE VA Primary School holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2019, with an ungraded visit in 2025 confirming that standards have been maintained. The school’s academic story is best told through its Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year, where 60% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits just above the Calderdale local authority average of 59%, placing Barkisland 37th out of 73 primary schools in the area. The school’s strongest individual subject at KS2 was maths, where 83% of pupils met the expected standard and 27% achieved the higher standard. Reading and writing expected rates were 73% and 77% respectively, while average scaled scores in reading and maths both came in at 106. The school ranks in the bottom half nationally, but its performance is broadly in line with local peers.

The Ofsted breakdown reveals a more nuanced picture. While the overall effectiveness and all graded categories except early years are rated Good, the early years provision was judged as Requires Improvement in the 2019 inspection. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all scored Good. The school’s previous inspection in 2011 had rated it Outstanding across the board, so the current Good rating represents a step down. Parent View responses from 138 respondents during the 2024/25 period show mixed feelings: 68% would recommend the school, but 32% would not. Strong disagreement was notably high on questions about SEND support (45% strongly disagreed that children get the support they need) and bullying (29% strongly disagreed it is dealt with quickly). On the positive side, 57% strongly agreed their child is happy, and 57% strongly agreed their child feels safe.

Barkisland is a Church of England voluntary aided primary school for children aged 4 to 11, with nursery provision available. It has 193 pupils against a capacity of 210, and just 5.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 51 applications for 25 places, with all 25 first-preference applicants offered a spot. Facilities include a dining hall, playing fields, sports hall, art studios, music rooms, an outdoor playground, a forest school and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, netball, swimming, gymnastics, cross country, cricket and football, while clubs range from gardening and eco club to film club and chess. The school’s SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families who value a strong Church of England ethos and a broad range of activities, but where SEND support and pastoral care have drawn significant criticism from some parents.

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