Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School Review 2026: High-expectations primary with standout behaviour and strong KS2 outcomes

Two-form entry and a “large school, small-school feel” is the pitch, and the available evidence backs up the confidence. Leadership is stable, with Claire Lyles having led since September 2012.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (May 2024) judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding judgements for Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, and Leadership and management. That combination matters for day-to-day experience: the school’s culture is described as calm, respectful, and anchored in clear routines, while still keeping academic ambition front and centre.

On outcomes, the school’s KS2 data places it comfortably above England averages, including a notably high proportion reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. Admissions pressure is real: for Reception entry, 128 applications competed for 58 offers in the latest dataset, with 1.13 first-preference applications per first-preference offer.

The school presents itself as a “Norristhorpe Together” community, and the external evidence suggests that is more than branding. The most recent inspection describes pupils who are proud of their school, enjoy attending, and show mature, respectful behaviour, including everyday courtesies and strong relationships with adults.

This is also a school that puts a lot of emphasis on character education as a planned, explicit strand. Weekly themes and pupil leadership roles feature strongly in the official picture, including eco-focused roles, school council representation, and subject ambassador responsibilities. For families who value a primary where behaviour, values and personal development are treated as core curriculum, the direction of travel is clear.

Leadership stability is a practical plus. The headteacher is consistently named across official and school-published sources, and the school itself notes her tenure from September 2012 to the present. In a primary context, that continuity often shows up in consistent routines, predictable expectations, and a shared language across year groups.

The most recent KS2 outcomes are strong across the board. 85.33% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, versus an England average of 62%. At higher standard, 27.33% achieved the high standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores also sit above typical benchmarks: reading 107, mathematics 106, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109. Science is also high, with 90% reaching the expected standard.

In FindMySchool’s primary ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 2,649th in England and 1st in the Liversedge local area, placing it above England average and comfortably within the top quarter of schools in England (top 25%).

What this means for parents: the data points to a school where most pupils leave Year 6 securely ready for secondary, and where a meaningful minority are working at greater depth. It can also signal a fairly high-expectations culture, particularly in core subjects.

If you are comparing nearby primaries, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can help you view these figures side-by-side, rather than trying to interpret them in isolation.

The clearest strength in the official picture is curriculum intent paired with staff development. The most recent inspection describes an ambitious curriculum, planned carefully for all pupils including those with special educational needs and disabilities, and supported by well-used professional development so that teachers deliver lessons with secure subject knowledge.

Reading is positioned as a priority. Phonics is described as well taught, with quick identification of pupils who need extra help, and then targeted support so they can catch up. This is one of the most practical markers of quality in a primary, because effective early reading tends to unlock access to the whole curriculum later on.

There is also an honest improvement point: one subject area is described as newer and not yet fully embedded, with occasional gaps in connecting current learning to prior learning. Leaders have identified this and are providing training to embed it quickly. For families, the takeaway is reassuring rather than alarming: the self-evaluation and follow-through appears to be in place, but curriculum consistency in every subject is still a live project.

As a Kirklees primary, the normal pathway is transfer to a local secondary school for Year 7. The school’s own alumni communications reference former pupils now at Spen Valley High School, including pupils taking on student leadership roles after leaving. While that is not a full destinations list, it is a useful local signal: families should expect a mainstream Kirklees transfer pattern, with pupils dispersing across the area’s secondaries depending on admissions criteria and family preference.

Practical implication: if you are considering this school primarily for its academic outcomes, it is worth looking early at the secondary options you would actually be eligible for, because the move at 11 will shape what comes next. Kirklees admissions timelines for secondary differ from Reception, so plan those as separate processes.

This is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Admission is through the local authority process for Reception entry, and demand is clearly above supply in the most recent dataset: 128 applications for 58 offers, with the school marked Oversubscribed and an applications-to-offers ratio of 2.21. That level of competition does not mean a place is impossible, but it does mean you should treat it as a realistic risk when house-hunting or planning nursery-to-Reception transition.

For September 2026 entry, Kirklees published a clear timetable: applications opened 1 September 2025, the on-time deadline was 15 January 2026, and National Offer Day for primary allocations was 16 April 2026. If you are applying outside the normal round, in-year processes are different and usually rely on current vacancies rather than planned admissions numbers.

Because published open-day style events change year to year, the most reliable approach is to check the school’s current visit arrangements and book a tour directly if offered.

Parents weighing the oversubscription risk should use FindMySchool Map Search to check their home-to-school distance precisely and to stress-test assumptions before relying on a place.

The most recent inspection describes a strong safeguarding culture, with pupils feeling safe and bullying described as rare, alongside access to trusted adults and additional support via a pastoral team when needed. Those are practical indicators of a school where pupils are expected to behave well, but are also supported when they struggle.

Support for pupils with SEND is also described as a strength, with effective identification and strong progress from starting points, and parent confidence in the support offered. This can be particularly reassuring for families who want a mainstream primary that takes inclusion seriously rather than treating it as an add-on.

Attendance is treated as a priority, with described systems to improve persistent absence for particular groups. The implication for parents is that the school is likely to be proactive and persistent where attendance becomes an issue, which can be supportive for some families and may feel firm to others.

The club list published by the school is unusually specific, and it helps paint a picture of what “enrichment” looks like in practice. Recent after-school provision has included Black Paw Martial Arts, Mindfulness Club, Outdoor Adventure Club, Cooking Club, Cartoon Club, Lego Club, Puzzle and Games Club, Book Lovers Club, and a named Dance club provider, alongside multi-sports and multiple football slots across age groups. Lunchtime homework clubs are also listed for Year 2 and upper school.

There are also signs of pupil-led and curriculum-linked enrichment beyond standard clubs. The school highlights eco-focused activity and has been publicly recognised for recycling work, with an Eco Team linked to a Kirklees Schools Recycling Hero award. Subject-linked trips and activities appear in school communications too, such as a Geography club local walk that included navigation and a visit to a trig point, which is the sort of small, tangible experience that makes primary learning stick.

For families, the implication is straightforward: pupils who enjoy practical activities, structured clubs, and clear routines are likely to find plenty to do beyond lessons, while those who need quiet downtime after a full day may need a more selective approach to after-school commitments.

The school publishes a clear school day: 8.50am to 3.30pm, totalling 33 hours and 20 minutes per week. Details of formal wraparound care (breakfast club and after-school care as childcare rather than clubs) are not clearly set out in the accessible sources reviewed here, so families should confirm current arrangements directly.

Travel and drop-off considerations are explicitly acknowledged in school materials, with the school noting that roads near the site can be challenging for parking, and promoting walking, scooting and cycling. Facilities mentioned include a bike shelter and scooter pods. For families who plan to drive, it is worth stress-testing the morning routine and parking plan early.

• Oversubscription pressure. With 128 applications for 58 offers in the latest dataset, competition for Reception places is meaningful. Families should plan a realistic fallback option.

• A high-expectations culture. Behaviour expectations are exceptionally strong on the latest evidence, which suits many pupils, but can feel intense for children who need a looser structure.

• Curriculum consistency is still bedding in fully. One subject area is described as newer and not yet embedded in the same way as the rest of the curriculum.

• Drop-off logistics. The school acknowledges challenging local roads and parking, so travel planning matters.

This is a large Kirklees primary that combines strong KS2 outcomes with a notably consistent behaviour and personal development picture. The school’s strengths look structural rather than cosmetic: stable leadership, clear expectations, and curriculum ambition that is supported by staff development.

It suits families who want a well-organised primary with firm routines, plenty of clubs, and results that sit well above England averages. The main challenge is admission competition, so it works best for families who can plan early and keep sensible alternatives in play.