South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School

South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School has demonstrated notable improvements since its last inspection, achieving a 'Good' overall effectiveness rating. The school's caring and positive atmosphere fosters a strong sense of community, making pupils feel safe and secure. There are effective leadership and management structures in place, along with a clear focus on maintaining high standards in education, particularly in early years and personal development, where it excels.

Strengths

• Positive and caring relationships foster a strong sense of community.
• Exemplary early years foundation stage providing a solid start for children.
• Outstanding personal development focusing on safety and well-being.
• High-quality training and support for staff to deliver the curriculum effectively.
• Effective leadership promoting a love for reading among pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers in some subjects do not effectively meet the needs of pupils with SEND.
• Inconsistent assessment practices in science and geography limit effectiveness.

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 South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School attended 93.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 19.6% 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, 0.7% of pupils at South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant 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 South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School had 25.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.7% 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, 15.0% of pupils at South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.6% 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 South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School received £6,907 and spent £6,799 for each of its 435 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £69,000 (£160 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 Pontefract · Wakefield local authority: places and applications

What is South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School have?

South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School has 454 pupils on roll.

What age range does South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School cover?

South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School?

South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School is at Carlton Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 2QQ.