Canklow Woods Primary School
123%
Capacity
258
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About Canklow Woods Primary School
Canklow Woods Primary School is a popular choice among local families, with 31 applications for 25 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.24. All 25 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while the school is in demand, it is not prohibitively selective. ParentView data is not available in the school's records, but the oversubscription figures indicate a solid local reputation. The school, led by headteacher Sara Birch, is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. It serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, as 59.5% of its 258 pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school operates at above its official capacity of 210, reflecting its role as a key local institution in Rotherham.
Academically, Canklow Woods was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2020, with leadership and management also judged Good. This marks a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2008, when overall effectiveness was Requires Improvement. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 41% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Rotherham local authority average of 60%. The school's average scores were 100 in reading and 102 in maths. Only 3% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. These results place the school 72nd out of 84 primary schools in Rotherham, and in the bottom 50% nationally. The school's ranking score of 41 reflects the challenge of achieving high outcomes in a context of significant pupil disadvantage.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a dining hall, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, and an outdoor playground. Sports provision includes swimming, cricket, athletics, dance, tennis and football, while extracurricular clubs cover science, drama, eco issues, coding and art. SEND support is extensive, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication issues, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. This makes the school a strong option for families seeking an inclusive, well-resourced primary with a supportive environment for children with additional needs. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Herringthorpe Junior School, 2.3 km away, for those prioritising top-tier academic ratings.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Wood Lane, Rotherham, Rotherham, S60 2XJ |
| Headteacher | Sara Birch |
| Local Authority | Rotherham |
| Number of Pupils | 258 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 59.5% |
| School Capacity | 258 / 210 (123% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Feb 2020Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (27 Feb 2020): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (41%)
12304th of 13,686
Nationally
1342nd of 1,506
In Yorkshire and the Humber
72nd of 84
In Rotherham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
41%
Expected Standard
3%
Higher Standard
'22/23
33%
'23/24
41%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed25
31
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
25 families put this school as their 1st choice (81% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British76.0%
- Mixed7.8%
- Asian6.9%
- White (other)3.9%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Canklow Woods Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Wood Lane, Rotherham
Rotherham, S60 2XJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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