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Simpson's Lane Academy

Wakefield, WF11 0PJPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Jun 2025
KS2 Results
77%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
43 1st-choice / 47 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#2057 of 13,686 nationally

About Simpson's Lane Academy

Simpson's Lane Academy sits within the Wakefield local authority, where it ranks 18th out of 97 primary schools, placing it comfortably in the top quarter of its peers. Among the highest-scoring schools in the area are Jerry Clay Academy, Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy, and Larks Hill Junior and Infant School, each with a ranking score of 93. The nearest school with an Outstanding Ofsted rating is The Vale Primary Academy, just 0.9 kilometres away. Simpson's Lane itself earned an Outstanding rating across all graded categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This marks a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2012, when it was rated Good overall. The school is led by headteacher Lee Colley and serves 402 pupils against a capacity of 577, with 54.1 per cent of children eligible for free school meals.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSycamore Avenue, Knottingley, Wakefield, WF11 0PJ
HeadteacherLee Colley
Local AuthorityWakefield
Number of Pupils402
Free School Meals (FSM)54.1%
School Capacity402 / 577 (70% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 21 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

24 Jun 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 20 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Music RoomsDining HallSensory RoomSports HallGymnasiumICT SuiteOutdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

FootballRoundersCricketGymnasticsNetball

Clubs & Activities

ChessGardeningCodingScience ClubArt ClubEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Simpson's Lane Academy

Simpson's Lane Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.