Helme Church of England Academy
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Helme Church of England Academy is a sponsored academy in Holmfirth for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 136 pupils and room for 140. About 17 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 78 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 87% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.
Helme, Meltham, Holmfirth, HD9 5RW01484 854524helmeschool.comMs Gillian Spooner headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 April 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall.
This inspection is more than 4 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
13 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018† | 2017† | Kirklees | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 13 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 63% | 25% | 83% | 53% | 75% | 61% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 11% | 5% | 17% | 0% | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 110.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 107.0 | 104.0 | 109.0 | 105.2 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 105.0 | 103.0 | 99.0 | 105.0 | 103.0 | 106.0 | 104.5 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 107.0 | 104.0 | 96.0 | 107.0 | 103.0 | 110.0 | 104.8 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 92% | 68% | 50% | 83% | 68% | 80% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 92% | 74% | 45% | 83% | 63% | 75% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 85% | 74% | 55% | 94% | 74% | 90% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -0.4 | +1.8 | -3.4 | -0.8 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -0.3 | -0.3 | -4.3 | -3.0 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | 57% | 15% | – | – | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | 67% | 43% | – | – | 86% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for Helme Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School, the school this one replaced in March 2018. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
About 17 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have grown by 7% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.
In 2025 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2025. Every child who applied got a place (19 offers for 20 places).
| Entry | Places | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Primary | 20 | 19 | – all offered | LA |
| 2024 Primary | 20 | 20 | 1.5 miles | LA |
What a home within 1.5 miles of the school costs
Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 31.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 24.7 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Other difficulty or disability (14), language and communications needs (13), Autistic spectrum disorder (9), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (5), Hearing impairment (4), emotional and mental health (3).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 136 | 132 | 128 | 128 | 120 | 107 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 17% | 19% | 23% | 33% | 28% | 25% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 27% | 25% | 25% | 23% | 21% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 8% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 4.2% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.3% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.0% | 3.1% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.0% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 1.0% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 10.5% | 13.6% | 8.7% | 13.5% | 9.2% | 6.5% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meltham Moor Primary School | Academy | 0.7 miles | 199 | Good 2024 | 74 | Compare |
| Meltham CofE (VC) Primary School | Church of England | 1.0 miles | 386 | Good 2022 | 31 | Compare |
| Linthwaite Clough Primary School | Academy | 1.4 miles | 238 | Inadequate 2023 | 0 | Compare |
| Linthwaite Ardron CofE (Voluntary Aided) Junior and Infant School | Church of England | 1.5 miles | 201 | Good 2021 | 87 | Compare |
| Nields Academy | Academy | 1.8 miles | 155 | Inadequate 2023 | 35 | Compare |
| South Crosland Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School | Church of England | 1.8 miles | 228 | Good 2023 | 29 | Compare |
| Netherton Infant and Nursery School | Academy | 1.9 miles | 204 | Good 2024 | 44 | Compare |
| Wellhouse Junior and Infant School | Council | 2.0 miles | 76 | Report card 2026 | 16 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Helme Church of England Academy with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 78 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 78% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 49 to 91. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | -0.02 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 13 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 17% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 4.4 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | +0.02 | DfE progress measure; 13 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well above | +0.33 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.05 | 2024/25; 114 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | -0.02 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 13 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Helme Church of England Academy a good school?
Yes, going by the figures. Helme Church of England Academy scores 78 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 87% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 49 to 91, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
What is Helme Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Helme Church of England Academy good at its last full inspection on 26 April 2022. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.
How good are Helme Church of England Academy's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 77% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Helme Church of England Academy have?
136 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 140 places, so it is 97% full.
Is Helme Church of England Academy oversubscribed?
Probably not. 17 places were empty in 2024/25 (12% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Helme Church of England Academy?
Pupils were in school 95.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 11% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Helme Church of England Academy?
The average class had 27.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 40% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Helme, Meltham, Holmfirth, HD9 5RW
- Telephone
- 01484 854524
- Website
- www.helmeschool.com
- Headteacher
- Ms Gillian Spooner
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Leeds (ce)
- Multi-academy trust
- Learning Accord Multi Academy Trust (19 schools)
- Local authority
- Kirklees
- Ward
- Holme Valley North
- Constituency
- Colne Valley
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 March 2018 (new provision)
- URN
- 145556 · LAESTAB 3822055 · UKPRN 10066827
- Formerly
- Helme Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Kirklees council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2024, 2025.
- House prices: HM Land Registry price paid data, December 2023 to December 2025, placed by postcode.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.