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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 139503

Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School

Academy converter · Pontefract · WF8 2NJ

Ages 3–11 · 335 pupils · Wakefield

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

88%

Overall absence

4.8%

Admissions demand

0.98 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2019-11-07

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)88%
Higher standard (RWM)16%
Avg scaled score — reading
108.0
Avg scaled score — maths
108.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
106.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence4.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)11.5%
Unauthorised1.8%
Authorised absence
3.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
269

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.98 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

41

Places offered

42

1st-preference offers

41

Total preferences (any rank)
93
Preferred offers (top 3)
42
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill106%

335 pupils · 315 places

Pupils on roll
335
Boys / girls
182 / 153
School capacity
315
Capacity fill
335 / 315 (106%)
Free school meals
23.1%
FSM pupils
64
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: PONTEFRACT ACADEMIES TRUST
Academy trust
PONTEFRACT ACADEMIES TRUST
Sponsor
Pontefract Academies Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Kara Adams

Location

Address
Orchard Head Lane
Postcode
WF8 2NJ
Town
Pontefract
County
West Yorkshire
Local authority
Wakefield
District
Wakefield
Constituency
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (primary), Ages 3–11, in Pontefract, Wakefield, 335 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 23.1%.

Open schools in Pontefract
46
Primary schools in Pontefract
36
Academies among open schools in Pontefract
70% (32)
Open schools in WF8
17
Primary in WF8
12
Open schools in Wakefield LA
158
Primary in Wakefield LA
113

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in PontefractNear WF8

  • Willow Green Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Knottingley · WF11 8PT · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS260%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM30.2%
    • Demand0.95

    0.9 miles away

  • St Giles C of E Academy

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Academy converter · Primary

    Pontefract · WF8 1HG · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS280%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM17.3%
    • Demand1.02

    0.9 miles away

  • Cherry Tree Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Pontefract · WF8 2HN · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS243%
    • Absence8.8%
    • FSM48.1%
    • Demand1.00

    1.0 miles away

  • De Lacy Primary School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Pontefract · WF8 2TG · Wakefield

    Ages 3–11

    • KS277%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM47.8%
    • Demand1.00

    1.2 miles away

  • Airedale Junior Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Castleford · WF10 3EP · Wakefield

    Ages 7–11

    • KS237%
    • Absence6.7%
    • FSM41.0%

    1.4 miles away

  • Airedale Infant Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Castleford · WF10 3QJ · Wakefield

    Ages 3–7

    • Absence7.3%
    • FSM20.5%
    • Demand0.95

    1.4 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Kara Adams
Telephone
01977723495
Website
https://orchardhead.patrust.org.uk

Official links