Best Primary Schools in Wakefield 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 113 schools across Wakefield. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
113
Open primary schools in Wakefield
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
100 Good or better
of 113 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Jerry Clay Academy currently leads
Methodology

Wakefield has 113 open primary schools. Of the 113 with a published Ofsted inspection, 11 (10%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 88% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Jerry Clay Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Wakefield follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Jerry Clay Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
2. Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
3. Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
4. Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 88 View school
5. South Ossett Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 88 View school
6. De Lacy Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
7. Ossett Southdale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
8. Grove Lea Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
9. Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
10. Larks Hill Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
11. Carleton Park Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. St Ignatius Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Horbury Bridge Church of England Junior and Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 79 View school
14. Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
15. Middlestown Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 79 View school
16. Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
17. Normanton All Saints CofE Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
18. England Lane Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
19. Simpson's Lane Academy
Primary
 Good 77 View school
20. Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane
Primary
 Outstanding 77 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Wakefield

Best primary schools in WakefieldTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in WakefieldTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in WakefieldPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in WakefieldYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in BarnsleyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LeedsCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KirkleesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DoncasterCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Wakefield?
There are 113 open primary schools in Wakefield (closed schools are excluded). 11 of the 113 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Wakefield?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Wakefield is Jerry Clay Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Wakefield?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Wakefield?
Primary and secondary applications in Wakefield are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Wakefield council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.