Classpot

Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School

Wakefield, WF8 2NJPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2025
KS2 Results
88%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
60 1st-choice / 42 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#467 of 13,686 nationally

About Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School

Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School is a state primary in Wakefield that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. With 358 pupils on roll against a capacity of 315, the school is operating above its official limit. For the 2025/26 intake, there were 120 applications for just 42 places, with 60 of those listing it as a first preference and only 39 first-preference offers made. That works out at nearly three applicants for every place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 20.3%, which is above the national average for primary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age three through to eleven, with its own nursery provision on site. Headteacher Kara Adams leads a school that, on these numbers alone, is clearly in demand among Wakefield families.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressOrchard Head Lane, Pontefract, Wakefield, WF8 2NJ
HeadteacherKara Adams
Local AuthorityWakefield
Number of Pupils358
Free School Meals (FSM)20.3%
School Capacity358 / 315 (114% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 49 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

12 Mar 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (12 Mar 2025): Improved significantly

Source: Ofsted, 26 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Sensory RoomLibraryPlaying FieldsSports HallOutdoor PlaygroundArt StudiosDining HallForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

Cross CountryDanceGymnasticsFootballAthletics

Clubs & Activities

GardeningCodingEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysical

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:20

Source: orchardhead.patrust.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School

Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.