Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding

Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School is a primary school in Pontefract for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 155 schools in Wakefield. It ranks 2nd of 33 primary schools in Pontefract. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 20 May 2025, report published 26 June 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Early years provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 May 2025

Pupils achieve exceptionally well at Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School. The school has a meticulous approach to ensuring that all pupils benefit from the excellent curriculum and opportunities to develop their character. The school's core values of 'be kind, be resilient, be ambitious, be Halfpenny' are clearly lived by staff and pupils across the school. The school has a culture of high ambition and inclusion. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the full curriculum alongside their peers. The expertly sequenced curriculum, along with staff development from the trust, have embedded consistent high-quality curriculum delivery across the school. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They are polite, respectful and follow the well-established routines in school. Pupils meet the high expectations of conduct. They celebrate 'random acts of kindness' seen in others, and they are motivated by the many ways staff recognise their efforts in lessons. Pupils benefit from the breadth of leadership opportunities. The school has implemented well-chosen workshops and community projects to ensure pupils are extremely well equipped to be excellent citizens of the future.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

58 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths93%

93%, 31 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths26%

26%, 18 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score111

111, 5 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score110

110, 5 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score109

109, 4 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

434 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals18.9%

18.9%, 7.6 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language6.9%

6.9%, 14.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support14.5%

14.5%, 0.3 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3%

3%, 3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract0.4 milesOfsted: Good77% met the expected standard
Larks Hill Primary School0.6 milesOfsted judgements: Outstanding97% met the expected standard
St Giles C of E Academy0.7 milesOfsted: Good78% met the expected standard
Carleton Park Junior and Infant School0.9 milesOfsted judgements: Outstanding87% met the expected standard
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School1 mileOfsted: Good42% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
ARK SCHOOLS
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Ian Shuttleworth
Address
Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BW
Local authority
Wakefield
URN
139502

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.