The school was built in 1959 on an open site mid way between Pontefract and Ferrybridge and accommodates children from Orchard Head and Stump Cross areas.  The land on which the school was built was originally a cherry orchard.  Later,  liquorice was grown here but the growing of this plant has now disappeared in this area.  An extensive view from the school takes in the whole of Pontefract and the power station of Ferrybridge, and the area is rich in historical content.  The Earl of Lancaster was executed in Orchard Head Lane and the Castle and Priory are not far away.  

The school was originally built to house three Infant classes and four Junior classes, but numbers in the 1960s rose from 280 to 450 and six temporary classrooms were added. We currently have just short of 300 children on roll. (January 2009)

In 1976 a purpose built Nursery was added to the school site  -  morning or afternoon sessions.  Two new classrooms were added to Main School and officially opened by Yvette Cooper M.P. in the Autumn Term 1999.  A new extension to the front of School was built in 2002.  This now holds a large computer suite and refurbished office block. All the computers in the ICT suite were upgraded in August 2008. All classrooms and nursery now have Interactive Whiteboards.

Two further classrooms were completed in January 2009 and were officially opened by Jane McDonald in  March 2009. Additionally, the Nursery has had a complete refurbishment & the Orchard Head Children's Centre is now complete and opened to the community this Spring.