West End Academy

West End Academy is currently undergoing significant improvements as suggested by this ungraded inspection, which indicates potentially enhanced performance since its last assessment. The school prides itself on providing an exceptional education where pupils, including those with special educational needs and disadvantaged backgrounds, achieve high standards and are well-prepared for future learning. Supported by the Waterton Academy Trust, the school embraces a broad curriculum aimed at developing global citizens and fostering leadership skills among students. Safety and well-being are prioritized, creating a warm and inclusive environment for all pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils receive an exceptional education and are safe in school.
• High ambitions for all pupils lead to notable achievement, especially among disadvantaged and SEND pupils.
• The curriculum is broad, well-structured, and supports deep learning.
• Strong focus on reading helps pupils become fluent readers quickly.
• Outstanding attendance and strong relationships with families enhance pupil well-being.
• Pupils are engaged in extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities.

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 West End Academy attended 94.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.5% 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, 0.0% of pupils at West End Academy 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 West End Academy had 23.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.5% 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, 11.8% of pupils at West End Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 2024–25 West End Academy received £6,934 and spent £6,941 for each of its 189 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £212,000 (£1,123 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Waterton Academy Trust, income was £7,509 and spending £7,385 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Pontefract · Wakefield local authority: places and applications

West End Academy is part of Waterton Academy Trust, which runs 16 schools. The nearest others:

• King's Meadow Academy Pontefract
• South Kirkby Academy Pontefract
• Ackworth Mill Dam School Pontefract
• Churchfield Primary School Barnsley
• Crofton Infant School Wakefield
• Sharlston Community School Wakefield
• Walton Primary Academy Wakefield
• Cherry Tree Academy Pontefract
• Normanton Junior Academy Normanton
• Normanton Common Primary Academy Normanton

What is West End Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for West End Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was West End Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

West End Academy was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does West End Academy have?

West End Academy has 187 pupils on roll.

What age range does West End Academy cover?

West End Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are West End Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is West End Academy?

West End Academy is at Regent Street, Hemsworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 4QJ.