South Kirkby Academy is a junior school based in the heart of the ex-mining town South Kirkby situated in Wakefield district. We have space for 240 children across eight classes.
South Kirkby is a small town with a rich history: it was first mentioned in 1086 in the Domesday Book, and South Kirkby retains the site of the original Saxon settlement. The town is also home to South Kirkby Colliery football club, who have competed in the FA Cup many times in their history. South Kirkby Academy works closely with Common Road Infant School – a Wakefield Local Authority School – as most learners in Year 2 then attend South Kirkby Academy in Year 3. The school’s former name was ‘Stockingate Mill Junior School’; this photo from 1919 shows Kirkby Mill, a previous tower windmill for corn. The foundations and some of the wall are still on our school playground.
Our vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive, safe and nurturing school, giving children a fantastic primary educationm through excellent teaching, learning and opportunity.
Our aims:
To deliver teaching and learning excellence to all children.
To provide opportunity and create life-long learners through a wide and enriching curriculum.
To nurture our children and families by providing a hub of support at the heart of the community.
To prepare our children for ‘Life Outside Kirkby’.
Our School Priorities 2026-2027:
- Further improve outcomes in Year 4 (Multiplication Tables Check) and in Year 6 (End of Key Stage 2 Assessments).
- Reduce persistent absence (PA) and improve attendance so more children attend school more of the time.
- Further improve the oracy approach in school aligned with the Waterton Spotlight on Oracy to develop engaged learners who can communicate effectively (The SKA Way).
Our Academy Trust
Since September 2016 we have been a proud member of Waterton Academy Trust, providing even more opportunities for our children to shine. Waterton Academy Trust’s motto is ‘Where Success is a Shared Experience’.
Our School Values
Be respectful, be kind, be inclusive, be safe, be independent, be resilient.
Our School Motto
Be brave, dream BIG!
Our Golden Rule
We make sure that everyone is safe, happy and learning.
The SKA Way – Be Brave, Dream BIG!
South Kirkby Academy has six core values and a ‘golden rule’ which underpin everything that we do. We call this ‘The SKA Way’.
