Bishopthorpe Infant School

About Bishopthorpe Infant School

Bishopthorpe Infant School is a small state primary in York, with just 98 pupils on roll against a capacity of 170, meaning it is currently well below its maximum intake. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 9.2%, which is below the national average and suggests a relatively advantaged catchment. Despite the spare capacity, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 68 applications for 28 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.43, and 27 of those applications were first-preference offers. This indicates that while the school is not full, it is a popular choice among local families, particularly those living closest to the school gates. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children aged 5 to 7, so it is an infant-only setting rather than a full primary. Headteacher Kerry Davies leads a team that has maintained a Good Ofsted rating, with the most recent ungraded inspection in February 2025 confirming that standards are being upheld.

Academically, Bishopthorpe Infant School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections. The most recent graded inspection took place in June 2012, where overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision were all judged as Good. The February 2025 ungraded inspection found that standards remain consistent. Because the school only covers Key Stage 1, there are no KS2 SATs results to compare against the local authority average of 62% achieving the expected standard. However, parent perception is overwhelmingly positive: 95% of the 21 respondents would recommend the school, and 86% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. In terms of behaviour, 67% strongly agreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 95% said bullying was not applicable to their child. The school also scores well on clubs and activities, with 71% strongly agreeing their child can take part, though 5% strongly disagreed on that point.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, music rooms, a gymnasium, and playing fields, which support its sports programme of football, cricket, rounders, swimming, dance, athletics, and tennis. Clubs include gardening, drama, and chess. For children with additional needs, the school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication difficulties. However, the parent view data on SEND support was not answered by any respondents, so it is difficult to gauge satisfaction in that area. The school is oversubscribed, so families living outside the immediate catchment may need to consider their chances carefully. Bishopthorpe Infant School is best suited to families seeking a small, community-focused infant setting with strong parent satisfaction and a calm, well-behaved environment, though those looking for a full primary through to age 11 would need to plan for a transition at Year 3.

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