Old Bank Academy

Old Bank Academy is performing well overall, showcasing a nurturing environment and an ambitious curriculum that supports the educational and personal development of its pupils. The school has effectively addressed areas needing improvement and fostered a strong sense of community among students, parents, and staff. Many stakeholders express satisfaction with the school's commitment to student progress and well-being, with a particular emphasis on care and support throughout the school's culture. The quality of education is deemed good, with effective strategies for teaching foundational subjects, including reading and mathematics. Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support is also highlighted as a key strength, allowing these students to thrive alongside their peers. However, some aspects of the foundation subjects have not yet been fully implemented, which occasionally limits students' ability to build a comprehensive understanding across the curriculum. Overall, the school is on a positive trajectory as it continues to evolve under the leadership of Judy Wood.

Strengths

• The school provides a nurturing and inclusive environment.
• Pupils display focus and positive behavior in lessons.
• The curriculum is ambitious and rich, going beyond academic achievement.
• Strong support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to thrive.
• Effective phonics and reading instruction is prioritized from early years.
• High-quality pastoral care provided to support mental health.
• Positive relationships and communication among staff and students.

Areas for Improvement

• Some foundation subjects have not been consistently implemented.
• Older pupils struggle with accurate letter formation and longer writing tasks.

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 Old Bank Academy attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.1% 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, 4.7% of pupils at Old Bank 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 Old Bank Academy had 14.9 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, 21.1% of pupils at Old Bank Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 10.5% 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 Old Bank Academy received £12,217 and spent £13,292 for each of its 102 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £42,000 (£412 per pupil).

Across all 16 schools of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust, income was £8,135 and spending £8,022 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 Mirfield · Kirklees local authority: places and applications

Old Bank Academy is part of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust, which runs 17 schools. The nearest others:

• Castle Hall Academy Mirfield
• Hill View Academy Huddersfield
• Newsome Academy Huddersfield
• Newsome Junior Academy Huddersfield
• Berry Brow Infant and Nursery Academy Huddersfield
• Manor Road Academy Huddersfield
• Hollingwood Academy Bradford
• Farnham Academy Bradford
• Lee Mount Academy Halifax
• Clayton Village Academy Bradford

What is Old Bank Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Old Bank Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Old Bank Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Old Bank Academy was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Old Bank Academy have?

Old Bank Academy has 114 pupils on roll.

What age range does Old Bank Academy cover?

Old Bank Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Old Bank Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 47% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Old Bank Academy?

Old Bank Academy is at Taylor Hall Lane, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, WF14 0HW.