Northowram Primary School
Baxter Lane, Northowram, Halifax, HX3 7EFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Northowram Primary School is a primary school in Halifax for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 112 schools in Calderdale. It ranks 19th of 40 primary schools in Halifax. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 5 November 2024, report published 12 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 5 November 2024
The school's high expectations for pupils' academic and personal development make a real difference to the pupils at Northowram. As a result of high-quality provision and support, pupils are well prepared for their next steps in learning, including the move up to secondary school at the end of Year 6. Pupils are happy to come to school. They are keen to do well and enjoy their lessons. Relationships between pupils, and with adults, are positive. It is a school where people get along, both in lessons and when at play. Pupils know that staff are always available to listen to any concerns they have. They are confident that any issues, including bullying on the rare occasions it happens, will be sorted out quickly. Attendance is high. Pupils achieve consistently well in national assessments. This is particularly the case in phonics and reading, where pupils achieve very highly as a result of high-quality provision. Pupils' achievement in subjects not assessed nationally, while strong, is not quite as high. The support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is very effective. Staff know pupils well. They work proactively to ensure pupils with SEND get the right support at the right time. Pupils with SEND achieve well in their learning and development.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, teachers' subject knowledge is less secure. Occasionally, it leads to pupils' misconceptions being missed. The school should ensure staff have the training and support they need to develop their subject-specific knowledge across the curriculum.
- Attendance for a small number of pupils is too low. The school's actions to address this have not been effective or timely. The school should redouble efforts with these families. It should evaluate carefully the actions take to improve the attendance of these pupils and adapt the approaches as necessary.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
60 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
451 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Northowram Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salterlee Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 42% met the expected standard |
| Shelf Junior and Infant School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 48% met the expected standard |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good | 95% met the expected standard |
| St Michael and All Angels CofE Primary & Pre School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 60% met the expected standard |
| Trinity Academy Akroydon | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 55% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jane Scardifield
- Phone
- 01422202704
- Address
- Baxter Lane, Northowram, Halifax, HX3 7EF
- Local authority
- Calderdale
- URN
- 107486
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.