Ben Rhydding Primary School

About Ben Rhydding Primary School

Ben Rhydding Primary School sits comfortably above the Bradford local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 66% of its pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the LA average of 59%. That seven-point gap is a meaningful one, and it places the school in the top third of all primary schools in Bradford — ranked 51st out of 153. The school’s reading results are particularly strong: 90% of pupils hit the expected standard and 38% reached the higher standard, well above typical local figures. Maths is more mixed — 69% at expected and just 7% at the higher level — but the average maths score of 102 is still solid. What’s especially notable is that Ben Rhydding achieves these results with a relatively low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals (8.1%), which may partly explain the above-average performance, but it’s still a clear signal of consistent classroom delivery.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2019, awarded it a Good rating overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, so there’s stability at the top under headteacher Peter Timms. This is a clear improvement from the school’s previous inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement across the board. The Progress 8 data is not available here, but the KS2 scores tell a positive story: a reading average score of 107 is notably strong, and 79% of pupils met the expected standard in writing. The school ranks in the top 50% nationally (41st percentile) and top 40% regionally, which is respectable for a relatively small primary of 186 pupils. With a capacity of 210, there’s some room to grow, but the school is already popular.

Ben Rhydding is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 100 applications for 23 places and 21 first-preference offers made — an oversubscription ratio of 4.35, meaning demand is high. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, music rooms, playing fields, art studios, a sensory room and a forest school, which supports its outdoor learning offer. Sports include football, athletics, gymnastics and netball, and clubs run the gamut from chess and choir to science club and drama. SEND provision is well-documented, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families seeking a well-regarded state primary in the Ilkley area with strong reading outcomes and a clear upward trajectory from previous inspection challenges, Ben Rhydding is a compelling option — especially if you can secure a place in the first round.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ben Rhydding Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents