South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Carlton Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, WF9 2QQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School is a primary school in Pontefract for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 155 schools in Wakefield. It ranks 23rd of 33 primary schools in Pontefract. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 22 November 2022, report published 16 January 2023

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

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 November 2022

Positive and caring relationships are a key feature of South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School. A strong family atmosphere helps pupils to feel safe and secure. Leaders ensure that pupils are at the centre of every decision in the school. All staff are passionate about supporting pupils to be ready for life beyond the school gates. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and at social times is positive. Pupils interact well together. Bullying happens sometimes. Pupils are confident that adults act quickly to bring it to a stop. Leaders have established clear behaviour expectations. Adults help pupils to recognise and manage their behaviours. This helps to create a calm and focused learning environment. Leaders ensure that pupils have an excellent understanding and respect for people who have different religions and family types. Pupils demonstrate extremely mature levels of tolerance. Leaders include trips to different places of worship within the curriculum offer. Pupils understand and celebrate what makes people special. The headteacher is determined that all pupils develop a love of reading. Each half term, every pupil receives the gift of a book to keep at home. In the early years, these books support children to develop a love of nursery rhymes and traditional tales. Older pupils speak with enthusiasm about the range of stories they have read.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects, teachers do not provide activities that meet the learning needs of pupils with SEND. This limits the progress these pupils make. Leaders should support teachers to adapt learning materials effectively in order to enable all pupils to access the full curriculum offer.
  • In subjects such as science, religious education (RE) and geography, assessment activities do not measure pupils' application of new subject knowledge. Subject leaders do not have a full picture of the effectiveness of the subjects they lead. Leaders should ensure that assessment provides the opportunity for pupils to demonstrate and apply their new knowledge across a range of learning activities.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

59 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths51%

51%, 11 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score103

103, 3 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score100

100, 5 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

454 pupils on roll, with places for 498

Eligible for free school meals30.8%

30.8%, 4.3 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language8.8%

8.8%, 12.8 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support15%

15%, 0.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.6%

2.6%, 3.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe0.4 milesOfsted: Good55% met the expected standard
Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource0.4 milesOfsted: Good35% met the expected standard
Ash Grove Primary Academy0.5 milesOfsted: Good48% met the expected standard
Northfield Primary School1 mileOfsted: Requires improvement83% met the expected standard
South Kirkby Academy2 milesOfsted: Good32% 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 Elizabeth Featherstone
Address
Carlton Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, WF9 2QQ
Local authority
Wakefield
URN
130866

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.