Calverley Parkside Primary School

About Calverley Parkside Primary School

Calverley Parkside Primary School is a state primary in Leeds, and it has quietly established itself as one of the strongest performers in the local authority. In the most recent rankings based on Key Stage 2 results, the school placed 8th out of 204 primary schools in Leeds, putting it comfortably inside the top 10. Its closest peers at the top of the table include Harewood Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Shadwell Primary School, and St Philip's Catholic Primary School, all of which score slightly higher on the ranking metric. The school's headteacher, Chris Jolley, leads a mixed-gender, non-religious primary for pupils aged 3 to 11, with a current roll of 235 children — slightly above its official capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 9.5%, which is relatively low for a Leeds state primary, and the school also offers nursery provision for younger children.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2022 rated it Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for leadership and management. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when the school was rated Inadequate across the board. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined — well above the Leeds local authority average of 61%. The school also performed strongly at the higher standard, with 39% of pupils reaching that level in reading, 23% in maths, and 19% in writing. Average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 105 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. While progress scores are not available in the data, the school's strong attainment figures place it in the top 5% nationally for combined expected standard.

The school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 111 applications for just 30 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 3.7 applicants per place. Of those, 31 put it as their first preference, and 29 first-preference offers were made. Facilities include a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, and a chapel, alongside playing fields and a gymnasium. Sports on offer include tennis, football, netball, cricket, and cross country, and there are clubs such as science, art, and eco club. The school has identified SEND provisions for social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families who value strong academic outcomes in a well-regarded local primary, Calverley Parkside is a compelling option — though securing a place will require a first-preference application given the level of demand.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Calverley Parkside Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents