Scissett Church of England Academy

Scissett Church of England Academy is performing exceptionally well. This was its first section 5 inspection since converting to academy status, although the predecessor school had previously been judged outstanding. Inspectors found pupils thrive in a remarkably nurturing and caring environment, with exceptionally positive attitudes, high attendance and a strong sense of harmony across the school. Leaders set the highest expectations, and pupils achieve highly through an ambitious and engaging curriculum. The school's strengths are evident across all areas. Early years provision is stimulating and expertly led, early reading support is highly effective, and provision for pupils with SEND has notable impact. Pupils produce work of exceptional quality, enjoy a rich wider personal development programme, and benefit from strong leadership, governance and trust support. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. No significant weaknesses or areas for improvement were identified in the report. The school is described as relentless in its pursuit of excellence, with staff well supported and a clear ethos that all pupils should succeed.

Strengths

• Exceptional pastoral care and a remarkably nurturing environment
• Pupils' behaviour and attitudes are exemplary
• Highly ambitious and engaging curriculum tailored to the school's context
• Outstanding early years provision with skilled staff interactions
• Highly effective early reading support that builds confident, fluent readers
• Excellent identification and support for pupils with SEND
• Pupils achieve highly and produce work of exceptional quality
• Rich personal development programme with strong pupil voice
• Strong leadership, governance and trust support
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

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 Scissett Church of England Academy attended 97.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.8% 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 Scissett Church of England 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 Scissett Church of England Academy had 25.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 45.0% 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, 8.9% of pupils at Scissett Church of England Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 2024–25 Scissett Church of England Academy received £6,299 and spent £6,424 for each of its 172 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £33,000 (£193 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

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

• Kaye's Academy Huddersfield
• Skelmanthorpe Academy Huddersfield
• St Aidan's Church of England 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 Scissett Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Scissett Church of England Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Scissett Church of England Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Scissett Church of England Academy was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Scissett Church of England Academy have?

Scissett Church of England Academy has 179 pupils on roll.

What age range does Scissett Church of England Academy cover?

Scissett Church of England Academy for pupils aged 4 to 10.

Where is Scissett Church of England Academy?

Scissett Church of England Academy is at Wakefield Road, Scissett, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD8 9HR.