Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School

Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School maintains a good standard of education, with a positive atmosphere where pupils thrive. The school's high expectations for learning and behavior are reflected in the calm environment and the respectful attitudes of the students. Pupils appreciate their time at school, feeling safe and supported by trusted adults, making them receptive to the rich curriculum that integrates enriching experiences. All learners, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), achieve well due to effective support and teaching methods that promote a love for reading and strong foundational skills in mathematics. However, the school has an area for improvement regarding the assessment of learning across the curriculum. While reading and mathematics evaluations are strong, checks on pupils' understanding in other subjects are not as comprehensive, hindering the ability of some leaders to ascertain overall pupil progress. As this is the first ungraded inspection since the school was last judged, there is a determined focus on maintaining high standards and ensuring that every child is prepared for the future.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a positive learning environment.
• High expectations for learning and behavior are set.
• Effective support and teaching for pupils with SEND.
• The school promotes a strong love for reading.
• Math skills are developed logically and effectively.
• Pupils engage in enriching curricular experiences.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment systems for learning in foundation subjects are not well-established.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School attended 93.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 18.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.4% of pupils at Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School had 23.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 1.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.0% of pupils at Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School received £6,784 and spent £6,657 for each of its 544 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £307,000 (£564 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Dewsbury · Kirklees local authority: places and applications

What is Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School last inspected by Ofsted?

Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School have?

Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School has 544 pupils on roll.

What age range does Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School cover?

Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School?

Headfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School is at Vicarage Road, Thornhill Lees, Headfield Junior School, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF12 9PD.