St Aidan's Church of England Academy
81%
Capacity
146
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About St Aidan's Church of England Academy
St Aidan's Church of England Academy is a small primary school in Kirklees, currently teaching 146 pupils against a capacity of 180, so there is room to grow. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 6.2%, well below the national average and suggesting a relatively affluent intake. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 55 applications for 24 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.29 applicants per place. All 24 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, which indicates that while competition exists, families who put it first are likely to succeed. The school is Church of England in character, and its headteacher is Alison Walshe. It caters for children aged 4 to 10, meaning pupils leave before secondary school, which is something to bear in mind when planning ahead.
Academically, St Aidan's holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025, with personal development judged Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2010 also rated the school Good overall, so it has maintained a solid track record. In the latest inspection, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all rated Good, while early years provision was also Good. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 results in this data, but the local authority average for KS2 attainment is 60, which provides a benchmark. Parents are overwhelmingly positive: 98% would recommend the school, and in the Parent View survey, 75% strongly agreed their child is happy, while 83% strongly agreed their child feels safe. Responses on SEND support were too few to report, but the school lists provisions for a range of needs including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties.
Facilities include a Forest School, sensory room, gymnasium, chapel, and an outdoor playground, which support the school's emphasis on wider personal development. Sports on offer include football, dance, cross country, tennis, and cricket, while clubs include science, film, and drama. The school is not a boarding school and has no nursery or sixth form provision. For families considering St Aidan's, the strong parent satisfaction, small size, and oversubscription suggest a popular local option with a caring atmosphere. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Scissett Church of England Academy, 1.7 km away, which may be worth comparing if you are looking for a top-rated alternative. Overall, this is a well-regarded Church of England primary that suits families who value personal development and a strong sense of community.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 10 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Smithy Close, Huddersfield, Kirklees, HD8 9DQ |
| Headteacher | Alison Walshe |
| Local Authority | Kirklees |
| Number of Pupils | 146 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.2% |
| School Capacity | 146 / 180 (81% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Ofsted Parent View
52 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed24
55
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
24 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:30
Source: saintaidans.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British96.6%
- Mixed2.1%
- Asian0.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Aidan's Church of England Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Smithy Close, Huddersfield
Kirklees, HD8 9DQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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