Hendal Primary School

About Hendal Primary School

Hendal Primary School in Wakefield is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 3 to 11, and it is running very close to full capacity with 416 pupils against a school capacity of 420. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 34.2%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and signals a catchment area with above-average levels of disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 93 applications for 47 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.98. Of those applicants, 44 put Hendal as their first preference, and all 44 received an offer. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular choice among local families, despite not being the highest-ranked in the local authority. The school has a nursery provision, and its religious character is listed as 'Does not apply'.

Academically, Hendal's most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 judged the school as Good overall, with personal development rated Outstanding. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Wakefield local authority average of 64%. The school's average scores in reading (104) and maths (105) are both slightly above the national average of 100, but the proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects is just 5%. In the local authority rankings, Hendal sits at 61st out of 113 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half. Progress scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, an ICT suite, music rooms, art studios and a sensory room. Clubs include art, film, chess, coding, choir and gardening, and sports on offer range from football and netball to gymnastics and dance. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent View responses from 37 parents are overwhelmingly positive: 92% would recommend the school, and 92% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying should be prepared to list it as a first preference. It will particularly suit families who value a strong personal development focus and a wide range of extracurricular activities within a community-facing primary.

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