Best primary schools in Pontefract (2026)
Pontefract has 10 ranked primary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Ark Larks Hill Primary School, in the top 1% in England. The average reading, writing & maths here in 2025 was 76%, against 62% for England. 5 are in England's top 10%, and 1 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
| Rank | School | Reading, writing & maths (2023–2025 average) | Reading, writing & maths 2025 | Trend | Higher standard | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 1% in England |
Ark Larks Hill Primary School Pontefract |
94% | 97% | 53% | Not judged | |
2 Top 1% in England |
Ark Carleton Park Primary School Pontefract |
92% | 87% | 23% | Not judged | |
3 Top 2% in England |
Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School Pontefract |
90% | 93% | 26% | Not judged | |
4 Top 4% in England |
Ark the Rookeries Carleton Primary School Pontefract |
81% | 73% | 32% | Good | |
5 Top 8% in England |
Ark Orchard Head Primary School Pontefract |
80% | 89% | 26% | Good | |
6 Top 12% in England |
Ark De Lacy Primary School Pontefract |
79% | 80% | 18% | Outstanding | |
7 Top 18% in England |
St Giles C of E Academy Pontefract · Church of England |
78% | 78% | 7% | No rating | |
8 Top 37% in England |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Pontefract · Roman Catholic |
67% | 77% | 10% | Good | |
9 Bottom 13% in England |
Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Pontefract · Roman Catholic |
47% | 35% | 0% | No rating | |
10 Bottom 5% in England |
Cherry Tree Academy Pontefract |
39% | 49% | 5% | Requires improvement |
Other towns in West Yorkshire
- Baildon
- Batley
- Bingley
- Boston Spa
- Bradford
- Brighouse
- Castleford
- Cleckheaton
- Cross Hills and Steeton
- Dewsbury
- East Ardsley
- Elland
- Featherstone (Wakefield)
- Garforth
- Gomersal and Birkenshaw
- Halifax
- Hemsworth
- Honley
- Horbury
- Huddersfield
- Ilkley
- Keighley
- Kippax
- Knottingley
- Leeds
- Linthwaite and Slaithwaite
- Liversedge
- Mirfield
- Morley (Leeds)
- Normanton (Wakefield)
Also see
Questions
What is the best primary school in Pontefract?
On exam results over the last three years, Ark Larks Hill Primary School is the top-ranked primary school in Pontefract, in the top 1% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.