Iqra Primary Academy

About Iqra Primary Academy

Iqra Primary Academy’s headline metrics sit noticeably below the Bradford local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 59 per cent, Iqra’s figure is 52 per cent. That gap of seven percentage points places the school 110th out of 153 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the bottom half of Bradford’s state primaries. Nationally, it ranks in the 75th percentile, meaning roughly a quarter of schools across England perform lower on this measure. The picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects: 73 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in maths, and 78 per cent did so in writing, both respectable figures. Reading is the weaker area, with only 58 per cent reaching the expected level. At the higher standard, just 8 per cent of pupils achieved the top grade across all three subjects, well below the kind of figures you’d see at the strongest local primaries like All Saints’ CofE or Harden.

Iqra’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2023, rated the school Good overall, a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2010. The inspection report highlights real strengths in behaviour and attitudes and personal development, both judged Outstanding. Leadership and management, quality of education, and early years provision all received Good grades. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it’s hard to gauge how much value the school adds from starting points, but the KS2 average scores tell a story: a maths average of 105 is solid, while reading at 103 is slightly lower. The proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in maths (31 per cent) is stronger than in reading (23 per cent) or writing (12 per cent). With 18.7 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, which provides important context for its results.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 73 places in 2025/26, it received 188 applications, a ratio of 2.58 applicants per place, and all 72 first-preference offers were taken up. Facilities include an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, an outdoor playground, and a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, cricket, tennis, netball, dance and athletics, and there are clubs for chess, coding and eco activities. The school’s SEND provision is broad, covering moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With nursery provision for children from age three, it suits families looking for continuity from early years through to Year 6. The school is non-religious in character, despite its name, and serves a mixed-gender intake in central Bradford. It’s a good fit for parents who prioritise strong behaviour and personal development over headline academic scores, and who want a well-resourced primary with a wide range of clubs and sports.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Iqra Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents