Cayton Community Primary School

About Cayton Community Primary School

Cayton Community Primary School is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, located in North Yorkshire. With 210 pupils on roll against a capacity of 260, the school is not yet full, but demand is clearly strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 78 applications for just 29 places, with 33 of those applications as first preferences. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.69, meaning nearly three families compete for each spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.5%, which is higher than the national primary average of around 23% but still significant for a village school context. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Juliet Monaghan. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, confirmed that standards are maintained, and the school retains its overall Good rating, a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015 when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Academically, Cayton performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 72% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the North Yorkshire average of 60%. The school ranks 46th out of 223 primary schools in the county, placing it in the top 21% locally, and 3,638th nationally out of 13,686 schools. Individual subject scores are solid: average scaled scores of 105 in both reading and maths, with 83% of pupils reaching the expected standard in each. At the higher standard, 17% achieved the combined benchmark, with maths leading at 28% and reading at 24%. Ofsted’s graded inspection in 2015 rated leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all as Good, and the 2024 ungraded visit found that quality has been sustained.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a dining hall, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers netball, athletics, cross country, cricket, tennis and gymnastics, while clubs include art, coding, chess, eco club and choir. For SEND, the school supports pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of the 21 respondents would recommend the school, and 71% strongly agreed that their child is happy. This is a school that suits families seeking a well-regarded, oversubscribed village primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear sense of community, though those applying should be prepared for competitive admissions.

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