Skelmanthorpe Academy

Skelmanthorpe Academy is performing well overall, with a 'Good' rating in all inspected areas. The school is viewed positively by parents as a nurturing community where students feel safe and engaged in their learning. High expectations for behavior and a recently reviewed curriculum in core subjects, especially mathematics and science, have contributed to students' enthusiasm and good attendance. However, there are notable areas for improvement, particularly in geography and phonics, where students have encountered gaps in knowledge.

Strengths

• Teachers create a nurturing learning environment.
• High levels of pupil attendance and engagement.
• Strong emphasis on reading for enjoyment.
• Effective curriculum in mathematics and science.
• Good support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.

Areas for Improvement

• Gaps in pupils' geographical knowledge.
• Inconsistent delivery of the phonics curriculum.
• Some subject leaders need to improve oversight of their subjects.

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 Skelmanthorpe Academy attended 97.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.7% 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, 0.8% of pupils at Skelmanthorpe 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 Skelmanthorpe Academy had 23.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.7% 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, 15.3% of pupils at Skelmanthorpe Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.2% 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 2024–25 Skelmanthorpe Academy received £7,992 and spent £7,994 for each of its 121 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £7,000 (£61 per pupil).

Across all 15 schools of Learning Accord Multi Academy Trust, income was £6,872 and spending £6,958 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 Huddersfield · Kirklees local authority: places and applications

Skelmanthorpe Academy is part of Learning Accord Multi Academy Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• St Aidan's Church of England Academy Huddersfield
• Scissett Church of England Academy Huddersfield
• Kaye's Academy Huddersfield
• Cumberworth CofE First School Huddersfield
• New Mill Junior School Holmfirth
• Hepworth Junior and Infant School Holmfirth
• New Mill Infant School Holmfirth
• Lowerhouses CofE Primary School Huddersfield
• Earlsheaton Infant School Dewsbury
• St John’s CE Primary School Dewsbury

What is Skelmanthorpe Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Skelmanthorpe Academy is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Skelmanthorpe Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Skelmanthorpe Academy was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Skelmanthorpe Academy have?

Skelmanthorpe Academy has 124 pupils on roll.

What age range does Skelmanthorpe Academy cover?

Skelmanthorpe Academy for pupils aged 3 to 10.

Where is Skelmanthorpe Academy?

Skelmanthorpe Academy is at Elm Street, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD8 9DZ.