Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Pontefract, Wakefield, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 63 of its 434 pupils (14.5%) were getting SEN support and 13 (3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 434 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Wakefield.
14.5% get SEN support
63 of 434 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3% have an EHC plan
13 of 434 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication36
- Social, emotional and mental health21
- Moderate learning difficulty5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 434 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Shuttleworth (Head of School)
- Part of
- Ark Schools
- Free school meals
- 20.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Wakefield
- School reference (URN)
- 139502
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Wakefield council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, May 2025; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (April 2024)
Inspected in May 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, April 2024).
Contact and getting there
Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BW
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- The Featherstone Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- High Well School Special school · Ages 9–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Ark Carleton High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Balance Alternative Provision Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.4%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.3 miles
- Ark The King's School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 14.3%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
- Ark Larks Hill Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.3%, EHC plans 2% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Wakefield SEND schools in Wakefield
Questions about Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School
How many pupils at Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 63 of the 434 pupils (14.5%) were getting SEN support and 13 (3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (36 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (21 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School?
Through Wakefield council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School?
You can ask for Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is The Featherstone Academy, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is Ark Halfpenny Lane Primary School?
Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4BW, in Wakefield.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.