Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School

Primary
Local authority maintained
Ages 4 to 11

Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Barnsley Road, Wakefield, WF2 6ASOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School is a primary school in Wakefield for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 155 schools in Wakefield. It ranks 49th of 50 primary schools in Wakefield. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 7 January 2025, report published 9 February 2025

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

Quality of education: Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes: Requires improvement
Personal development: Requires improvement
Leadership and management: Good
Early years provision: Requires improvement
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

88 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths45%

45%, 17 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths3%

3%, 5 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

608 pupils on roll, with places for 630

Eligible for free school meals24.3%

24.3%, 2.2 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language37.3%

37.3%, 15.7 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support21.4%

21.4%, 6.6 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.5%

3.5%, 2.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Sandal Magna Community Academy	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Good	67% met the expected standard
Walton Primary Academy	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	71% met the expected standard
Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	65% met the expected standard
Hendal Primary School	1 mile	Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding	51% met the expected standard
The Mount Junior Infant & Nursery School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	56% met the expected standard

School details

School type: Voluntary aided school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 4 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery classes: No
Headteacher: Mrs Caroline Butterworth
Phone: 01924303525
Website: sandalcastleprimary.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Barnsley Road, Wakefield, WF2 6AS
Local authority: Wakefield
URN: 108270

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.