Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School

About Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School

Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School sits in a tricky spot compared to the Wakefield average for primary schools. Its key headline metric — the percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — sits at 55 per cent, which is nine points below the local authority average of 64 per cent. That places the school 70th out of 97 primary schools in Wakefield, putting it in the bottom half of the league table. On the other hand, individual subject scores tell a slightly more nuanced story. In reading, the average scaled score is 104, and 62 per cent of pupils hit the expected standard, while in writing that figure rises to 69 per cent. Maths is the weaker area, with an average score of 100 and only 62 per cent reaching the expected level. The school also has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 38.7 per cent, well above the national average, which provides important context for these results.

Academically, the school has made a significant turnaround since its last graded inspection. In 2017, Ofsted rated the school Inadequate overall, with leadership and management also marked Inadequate and early years provision Requires Improvement. In its most recent graded inspection in 2019, however, the school jumped to a Good rating across every category — overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all received a Good. An ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. Parent views collected between September 2024 and September 2025 are broadly positive: 87 per cent of respondents said their child is happy at the school, and 85 per cent said their child feels safe. However, only 76 per cent would recommend the school to other parents, and concerns about how issues are dealt with split opinion — 49 per cent strongly agreed concerns are handled properly, but 14 per cent strongly disagreed.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 42 applications for 16 places and a ratio of 2.63 applicants per place, though all 16 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. It has a nursery provision for children aged three and over, and the school itself caters for pupils up to age 11. Facilities include a library, playing fields, a sports hall, an outdoor playground, an ICT suite, a dining hall and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, athletics, gymnastics and rounders, while clubs range from art and coding to drama, film club and choir. The school lists SEND provisions covering a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families weighing up options, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School, 1.3 kilometres away, but Mackie Hill offers a Good-rated alternative with a strong recent Ofsted trajectory and a broad set of clubs and facilities.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School

Helpful Guides for Parents