Cherry Tree Academy
Cobblers Lane, Pontefract, WF8 2HNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Cherry Tree Academy is a primary school in Pontefract for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 155 schools in Wakefield. It ranks 32nd of 33 primary schools in Pontefract. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in January 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 30 January 2024, report published 13 March 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 30 January 2024
Leaders have high expectations for all pupils who attend Cherry Tree Academy. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school's expectations are not consistently realised across the curriculum. Since the last inspection, the school has experienced some turbulence in staffing. Despite this, the curriculum has been redesigned to ensure that pupils' learning builds over time. Staff deliver the curriculum with accuracy and understanding. In some curriculum areas, this work is very recent and its impact is not measurable. Pupils at Cherry Tree Academy are safe. They behave well in school and at breaktimes. Bullying happens rarely. Adults sort it out immediately. The school has invested wisely in learning resources and the learning environment. This includes step-out spaces throughout the school. These spaces support pupils to reflect on their behaviour and regulate their emotions, when needed. The school provides a range of extra-curricular clubs. These include singing and sports clubs. Opportunities for pupils to develop and explore their talents and interests are plentiful. The curriculum is enhanced by educational visits. These visits are carefully considered and link to the curriculum well.
What the school should improve
- Too many pupils do not attend school regularly and too many are persistently absent. These pupils miss essential learning and fall behind their peers. The school should develop its work with parents further to ensure that these pupils attend school more often and on time.
- The school has not checked on the impact of some curriculum initiatives. The success of these initiatives is unknown. The school should ensure that systems are put in place to check whether its ambitious vision is being realised across the curriculum.
- Some older pupils have gaps in their knowledge and understanding. These pupils are not achieving as well as they should. The school must address the gaps in older pupils' knowledge quickly to ensure that they are ready for the demands of secondary schooling.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
43 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
233 pupils on roll, with places for 315
Schools near Cherry Tree Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | 35% met the expected standard |
| De Lacy Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 80% met the expected standard |
| St Giles C of E Academy | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 78% met the expected standard |
| The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 73% met the expected standard |
| Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 89% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- WATERTON ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Adam Dawson
- Phone
- 01924967603
- Address
- Cobblers Lane, Pontefract, WF8 2HN
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- URN
- 144400
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.