The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School

About The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School

The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School is a popular choice among local families, with 84% of parents who responded to the Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school to others. That confidence is reflected in its oversubscription: for 2025/26 entry, the school received 101 applications for just 45 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.24. Of those, 40 offers went to first-preference applicants out of 43 who listed it as their top choice, meaning nearly all first-preference families secured a spot. The school, led by headteacher David Dunn, is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. It serves the Wakefield area and has no religious character. With 320 pupils on roll against a capacity of 316, it is operating at full capacity, and 20.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, slightly above the national average.

Academically, the school performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 84% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Wakefield average of 64%. The school ranks 11th out of 97 primary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 12% regionally and the top 7% nationally. In individual subjects, 89% met the expected standard in reading, 86% in maths and 84% in writing. Higher-standard attainment is strong too: 77% achieved the higher standard in reading, 61% in maths, and 20% across all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 112 in reading and 110 in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023 rated it Good overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision and behaviour and attitudes. This is a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including art studios, a sports hall, playing fields, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports on offer include rounders, football, gymnastics, cross country, athletics, tennis and cricket, while clubs cover drama, choir, science and gardening. For pupils with additional needs, the school has a resourced provision and supports a wide range of SEND categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Carleton Park Junior and Infant School, 0.9 km away. The Rookeries suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong academic outcomes, a clear improvement trajectory, and a full wraparound of enrichment and support, though securing a place requires early application given the high demand.

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