Located in Wakefield, Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School is a primary school, serving pupils aged 4 to 11. The school is a voluntary aided school and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It has a church of england religious character.

Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School currently has around 618 pupils on roll, which is about 98% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 55.5% boys and 44.5% girls. Around 24.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.

Overall absence at the school is 6.3%. Persistent absence is recorded at 21.5%.

The majority of pupils are from a white british background (52.8%). pakistani pupils make up about 13.8% , followed by other white at 12.9%

Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.

School Information

Address: Barnsley Road, Wakefield, WF2 6AS
Website: www.sandalcastleprimary.co.uk
Telephone: 01924303525
School Type: Voluntary aided school
Education phase: Primary
Local authority: Wakefield
Headteacher / Principal: Mrs Caroline Butterworth
Religious character: Church of England
Admissions policy: Not applicable
Unique reference: 108270

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 07/01/2025

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 4 - 11
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 630
Number of Pupils: 618
Number of Boys: 343
Number of Girls: 275

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 6.3% 4%
Persistent absence: 21.5% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British52.80%326
Pakistani13.80%85
Other White12.90%80
African6.80%42
White and Black African3.10%19
White and Asian2.80%17
Other Mixed2.40%15
Other (any other ethnic group)1.90%12
Indian0.80%5
White and Black Caribbean0.80%5
Chinese0.50%3
Gypsy/Roma0.50%3
Other Asian0.30%2
Other Black0.30%2
Bangladeshi0.20%1
Unclassified0.20%1
Irish0.00%0
Caribbean0.00%0
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0

Education - Primary

Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.

Reading: Well Below Average (-5.6)
Writing: Well Below Average (-2.8)
Maths: Well Below Average (-5.2)
Pupils meeting expected standard in reading, writing and maths
School
38%
Town average
60%
Local authority average
53%
England average
61%
Pupils achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and maths
School
2%
Town average
8%
Local authority average
4%
England average
8%
Average score in reading
School
100.0
Town average
104.3
Local authority average
102.8
England average
105.1
Average score in maths
School
100.0
Town average
104.0
Local authority average
102.1
England average
104.3

Nearby Schools

Nursery

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
The Castle Nursery School
255A Barnsley Road , WF1 5NU
3out of 4 1,220 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School
Crigglestone Nursery School
High Street , Crigglestone WF4 3EB
4out of 4 3,154 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Sandal Castle VA Community Primary School
Barnsley Road , WF2 6AS
- not rated 0 yd Voluntary aided school No Mixed More About School
Wakefield Castle Grove Infant School
Pinfold Lane , Sandal WF2 7LN
- not rated 713 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Wakefield Sandal Magna Junior and Infants School
Belle Vue Road , WF1 5NF
- not rated 1,268 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
Sandal Magna Community Academy
Belle Vue Road , Agbrigg WF1 5NF
3out of 4 1,268 yd Academy sponsor led Yes Mixed More About School
Walton Junior School
School Lane , Walton WF2 6PA
- not rated 1,502 yd Community school No Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
St Thomas ? Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy
Barnsley Road , WF2 6EQ
3out of 4 631 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School
St Thomas A Becket Catholic College Specialist Status In Humanities: With Autism Resource
Barnsley Road , Sandal WF2 6EQ
- not rated 647 yd Voluntary aided school No Mixed More About School
Kettlethorpe High School
Kettlethorpe Hall Drive , Standbridge Lane WF2 7EL
3out of 4 1,427 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Thornes House School
Thornes Park , WF2 8PW
- not rated 2,181 yd Community school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Trinity Academy Cathedral
Thornes Road , WF2 8QF
4out of 4 2,743 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School

Middle deemed secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Manygates Middle School
Manygates Lane , Sandal WF2 7DQ
- not rated 926 yd Community school Not Applicable Mixed More About School

Not applicable

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Kettlethorpe Middle School
Hendal Lane , Kettlethorpe WF2 7QW
- not rated 2,295 yd Miscellaneous Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Cathedral Middle School
Thornes Road , WF2 8QF
- not rated 2,863 yd Miscellaneous Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Wakefield the Park School
Lawefield Lane , WF2 8SX
- not rated 2,988 yd Community special school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Camphill Wakefield (Pennine Camphill Community Ltd)
Wood Lane , Chapelthorpe WF4 3JL
- not rated 3,255 yd Special post 16 institution Not Applicable Mixed More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.