Appleton Primary School

About Appleton Primary School

Appleton Primary School is a popular choice among local families, with 58 applications for just 16 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 3.63. All 16 first-preference applicants received offers, which suggests that for those who list it as their top choice, the school is a realistic option. ParentView data is not available in the school’s records, but the high demand alone signals strong local confidence. Headteacher Mary Langton leads a mixed, state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery provision on site. The school has capacity for 320 pupils but currently enrols 224, meaning there is room to grow. Around 34% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the school’s inclusive intake. The school does not have a religious character, so it draws families from a broad cross-section of the community in Kingston upon Hull.

Academically, Appleton Primary holds a Good rating from Ofsted, confirmed in its most recent ungraded inspection in November 2021, which found the school remains Good. The previous graded inspection in 2013 also rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management and early years provision both scoring 2 (Good) at that time. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, slightly below the local authority average of 65%. The school ranks 44th out of 69 primary schools in Kingston upon Hull, placing it in the bottom half of the LA. However, individual subject scores are more encouraging: 76% met the expected standard in maths, and average scaled scores in reading and maths both sit at 104, exactly in line with the national average. Only 11% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is a modest figure compared with the top-performing local primaries like Bricknell and Collingwood.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a Forest School, library, art studios, sports hall and playing fields, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers swimming, netball, dance, tennis, cross country, football and athletics, and there are clubs such as coding, book club, choir, gardening and eco club. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, visual impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health support. This makes it a practical choice for families who want a mainstream setting with recognised support for a range of conditions. The school is oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is advisable. It suits families who value a broad extracurricular offer and a school that, while not academically top of the LA rankings, provides consistent Good-rated teaching and a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.

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