Flockton CofE (C) First School

Flockton CofE (C) First School is a small Church of England first school that inspectors found to be performing well across all key areas. Pupils are described as thriving, safe and well cared for, with strong relationships, good behaviour and a distinct Christian ethos that parents value. The school offers a broad range of extracurricular activity and encourages pupils to take responsibility in school and the wider community. The curriculum has been carefully reviewed and sequenced to meet the needs of mixed-age classes, and reading and phonics are particular strengths. Early years provision is well designed, pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported effectively, and personal development has a sharp focus, including mental health and spirituality. Leadership and governance are committed and knowledgeable, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school’s first graded inspection under section 5 and its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, so no overall effectiveness grade was given under the current framework. Inspectors identified three main areas for improvement: some subjects, including geography, are in the early stages of implementation; expectations for handwriting and presentation are not consistently high; and pupils’ understanding of protected characteristics and fundamental British values is not sufficiently developed.

Strengths

• Strong culture of care with pupil well-being at the heart of the school
• Pupils feel safe and are safe
• Pupils behave well and show respect for each other
• Christian values are evident throughout the school ethos
• A range of extracurricular activities is valued by pupils and parents
• Pupils are encouraged to play an active role in school and the community
• Curriculum is carefully considered and well sequenced for mixed-age classes
• Reading and phonics are taught highly effectively
• Early years provision gives children a strong start to school
• Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported well
• Personal development is a sharp focus, including mental health and spirituality
• Staff and governors are passionate, knowledgeable and committed to the school
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects, including geography, are in the early stages of implementation, so pupils do not have the same depth of knowledge as in other subjects
• Expectations for pupils’ recorded work are inconsistent, with weaknesses in handwriting and presentation not always addressed
• Pupils’ understanding of protected characteristics and fundamental British values is not sufficiently developed

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 Flockton CofE (C) First School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.6% 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, 2.5% of pupils at Flockton CofE (C) First 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 Flockton CofE (C) First School had 18.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 7.5% of pupils at Flockton CofE (C) First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.2% 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 Flockton CofE (C) First School received £8,741 and spent £8,837 for each of its 80 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £29,000 (£365 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 Wakefield · Wakefield local authority: places and applications

What is Flockton CofE (C) First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Flockton CofE (C) First School is Good, from an inspection in February 2025.

When was Flockton CofE (C) First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Flockton CofE (C) First School was last inspected in February 2025.

How many pupils does Flockton CofE (C) First School have?

Flockton CofE (C) First School has 80 pupils on roll.

What age range does Flockton CofE (C) First School cover?

Flockton CofE (C) First School for pupils aged 4 to 10.

Where is Flockton CofE (C) First School?

Flockton CofE (C) First School is at Flockton First School, Barnsley Road, Flockton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4DH.