St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy

About St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy

St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy in Kirklees is a state-funded primary school with a Roman Catholic character, currently educating 243 pupils against a capacity of 271. That leaves a small amount of headroom, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 reception intake, it received 52 applications for just 25 places, with all 25 first-preference offers taken up. That oversubscription ratio of 2.08 tells you this is a school local families are actively choosing. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15%, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively less deprived intake than many of its neighbours. The school also offers nursery provision for children from age three, so it can be a natural choice for families looking for continuity from early years right through to Year 6.

Academically, St Patrick's performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Kirklees average of 60%. That places the school 23rd out of 94 primary schools in the local authority, putting it comfortably in the top quarter. Results are particularly strong in reading, where 97% of pupils met the expected standard and 31% reached the higher standard. Maths scores are solid too, with an average scaled score of 106 and 89% hitting the expected level. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, rated it Good overall, with all inspected categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — all judged Good. That's a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2007, but the inspection report notes consistent quality across the board.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a sensory room, a chapel, an ICT suite and playing fields. Sports provision covers football, cricket, netball, tennis and swimming, while clubs extend to coding, choir, drama, gardening and an eco club. For families with children who have additional needs, St Patrick's lists provisions for a wide spectrum, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities. The school is oversubscribed, so anyone considering it should be aware that a first-preference application is essential. Given its strong academic outcomes, Catholic character and solid pastoral infrastructure, this is a school that will particularly suit families who want a faith-based primary with proven results and a broad extracurricular offer, especially those living within the parish catchment area.

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